Azul begins PAX-freighter flights with cargo in the cabin
13 / 05 / 2020
Azul Covid-19 A320neo flights
Azul has carried out its first PAX-freighter flight using the cabin following the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) allowing cargo to be transported on seats during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first flight took place on May 9 on the Campinas — Belém route, in an A320Neo aircraft, which has 174 seats. In all, seven tons of cargo were transported in the aircraft’s hold, seats and bins (upper compartments).
Azul Cargo Express had the support of teams from the company’s engineering, maintenance, fleets and safety areas.
In total the airline has nine aircraft dedicated exclusively to cargo transportation.
Izabel Reis, director of Azul’s cargo unit, said: “We are working hard to meet requests for cargo transportation, even in the midst of the difficult time the world is going through.
“Anac’s approval for the transportation of cargo also in the passenger cabin helps our company to increase our supply capacity, contributing to the efficiency of our delivery and the capillarity of our network. Azul Cargo Express is ready and prepared to continue serving Customers with the customized solutions that our business offers.”
Since authorization, Azul has used part of its fleet to reinforce cargo transportation, providing an essential service throughout the country.
The company’s objectives are in line with the Anac regulation which says that “air cargo services are vital for the economy and also for combating Covid-19, and Brazilian and global supply chains depend on unimpeded operation”.
