NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Azul Uruguay launch suspended due to Azul refocus on Brazil

Azul Uruguay, the new airline which was planning to start service out of Montevideo (MVD) in March this year, was put on hold by its parent company, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, in late December 2017.

Three new ATR-72-600's, (c/n 1342) that was to be registered CX-URA, (c/n 1360) that was to be CX-URB and (c/n 1367) to be CX-URY, were at the aircraft manufacturer's factory in Toulouse, France already earmarked to join Azul Uruguay but have since been reassigned to the fleet of Azul in Brazil. 

The start-up of Azul Uruguay was rumored to be suspended due to objections by its parent company to the certification procedures of the Uruguayan DINACIA aviation authority that took 16 months to license the now-defunct Alas Uruguay in 2015-16.  However, Azul Brazil said in a statement that the new division's start-up was due to a reassignment of resources to expansion in Brazil due to the country's nascent recovery from the economic recession of recent years.

Sources:

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/25476-azul-uruguay-por-enquanto-nao-viu

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171221/avn-171221.html

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/25521-azul

NEW AIRLINE PLANS & FLEET UPDATE: Azul Uruguay to take delivery of two ATR-72-600's as it prepares for the start of service

Start-up airline Azul Uruguay expects to take delivery of two new ATR-72-600's in the next month or two, CX-URA (c/n 1342) and CX-URY (c/n 1367), both apparently on lease from Nordic Aviation Capital.  A third ATR-72-600, CX-URB (c/n 1360), is reportedly undergoing flight tests at the ATR facility in Toulouse, France.         

The Uruguayan division of parent airline Azul of Brazil is going through the process of getting the aircraft certified for airline service by the Uruguayan aviation authorities and contracting personnel for the start of operations. Possible routes include Montevideo (MVD) to Cordoba (COR), Porto Alegre (POA), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), and the coveted "Air Bridge" to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).     

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/uruguay-se-pinta-de-azul.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/roll-out-n-338-fleet-list.html

Azul Uruguay continues certification process - expected to fly to 5 cities in Argentina and Brazil

Azul Uruguay continues its certification process in relative silence as it prepares to start up operations in September or October of this year with four ATR-72-600's and one Embraer 190/195 from Montevideo (MVD) to five cities in Argentina and Brazil. 

The airline intends to fly the ATR-72-600's once daily each to Cordoba (COR), Rosario (ROS) and Porto Alegre (POA) and five times daily on the prized and highly-profitable Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) route.  The Embraer 190/195 will be used to service Campinas Viracopos (VCP), located some 60 miles / 100km from Sao Paulo due to the stage length being excessive for the ATR-72-600's.

Editor's Note:

One wonders what will happen on the Montevideo (MVD) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) "Air Bridge" with three airlines each operating multiple daily flights on the route; Aerolineas Argentinas, Amaszonas Uruguay and Azul Uruguay.  This brings back memories of the 1970's when the two capitals were linked by Aerolineas with 737-200's and F-28's, Austral with YS-11's and PLUNA with Viscounts.  Will there be room for all three of today's airlines on this route ?               
Source:

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/primera-plana/item/24772-azul-uruguay-plan-de-negocios-incluye-5-destinos-regionales-iniciales

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Azul Uruguay moving forward on starting operation with 6-8 ATR-72-600's

Azul Uruguay, the planned new Uruguayan division of Azul Brazilian Airlines, has completed submitting the necessary paperwork to the Uruguayan DINACIA aviation authority to demonstrate its fitness to operate as an airline, with the Junta Aeronautica, another Uruguayan aviation agency, next in line to grant the new airline provisional operating authority. 

Azul Uruguay plans to start flying with 6-8 factory-new ATR-72-600's from Montevideo (MVD) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Porto Alegre (POA), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Cordoba (COR), probably in the second half of this year.  The carrier plans to employ many former Alas Uruguay and PLUNA employees.  

Sources:

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/primera-plana/item/24396-dinacia-se-apresta-a-autorizar-a-azul-como-aerolinea-uruguaya

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/05/azul-uruguay-cada-vez-mas-cerca-de-ser-una-realidad/

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Azul Linhas Aereas planning Uruguayan subsidiary to be named Azul Uruguay

Azul ERJ-195LR, PR-AYD (c/n 247), on final approach to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU) on 13Aug12.  (Phil Perry Photo)   

Azul Linhas Aereas of Brazil is planning to start a new Uruguayan subsidiary named Azul Uruguay in the second half of 2017. 

The carrier would be registered as a Uruguayan company with Uruguayan employees and all of its flights originating or terminating in Uruguay.  Former PLUNA and Alas Uruguay staff would be the most likely to be hired.  

One concern that the Azul management have, which would have to be addressed, is the long certification times that Alas Uruguay (18 months) and Amaszonas Uruguay (12 months) had to undergo before they were certified to operate by the DINACIA Uruguayan aviation authority.    

One of the motivations for Azul to start the new subsidiary would be to generate more of the hard currency normally charged for international travel to offset the hard currency shortfall that the carrier currently has.  53% of Azul's costs in 2016 were in US dollars while only 10% of its revenues were in hard currencies with the other 90% being in Brazilian Reales which are more vulnerable to strong variations in exchange rates often resulting in higher costs for the carrier.        
Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161201/avn-161201.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161222/avn-161222.html
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/23954-azul-uruguay-confirmando-nuestra-presuncion-comenzara-a-operar-en-el-segundo-semestre