Amazon.com signed a cargo capacity charter agreement with Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) covering the north of Brazil, although with no mention of chartering entire aircraft.
"Having the services of the company with the largest number of flights in Brazil is another important step in our business strategy. We want to guarantee deliveries with the best possible performance and schedule", Head of Air Transport at Amazon Brazil Alex Cristiano de Paula said.
In a recent interview with ch-aviation, Azul's CEO, John Rodgerson, highlighted the the e-commerce and express freight market's potential in Brazil. The airline is prioritising domestic growth and leads the market in terms of the number of destinations, including remote points served by regional subsidiary Azul Conecta (2F, Jundiaí) with Cessna (single turboprop) C208 Grand Caravans. In addition to the substantial bellyhold capacity, Azul Cargo operates an in-house fleet of two B737-300(F)s and five converted E195(F)s. The airline is the world's only operator of the latter. Rodgerson said that Azul could eventually increase its fleet of Embraer freighters to up to 15 units.
Amazon's Latin American rival, Mercado Libre, charters aircraft from GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes and Sideral Linhas Aéreas in Brazil.