Fast-growing Azul to fly to Brazil from New York
There will be a new option for travelers between New York and Brazil this summer when Azul adds the Big Apple to its growing international map.
The Brazilian carrier will begin service between its Viracopos (VCP) base near São Paulo and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) on June 15, the airline said Thursday. It will offer daily service on Airbus A330 jets.
"We already offer the broadest network in Brazil with service to more than 100 domestic destinations and now we are adding a very important corporate destination to our portfolio," Azul CEO John Rodgerson said in a statement.
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Azul will operate from Terminal 5 at JFK, where the new flight will connect to ones operated by its codeshare partner JetBlue Airways.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines and United Airlines all fly between the New York area and São Paulo, however, they serve the Brazilian city's main international airport Guarulhos (GRU) and not Viracopos, according to Cirium schedule data.
Azul initially planned to offer flights to New York shortly after it opened its first U.S. route to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) in 2014. However, the weakening Brazilian economy prompted the carrier to delay New York flights until 2016, and then to indefinitely postpone the planned service.
The Brazilian economy has since rebounded and Azul has expanded its U.S. network. The airline serves Fort Lauderdale and Orlando (MCO) in the U.S. with flights from Belo Horizonte (CNF), Recife (REF) and Viracopos, Cirium schedules show. It also flies between Belem (BEL) and Fort Lauderdale.
Azul's U.S. expansion comes as it considers joining the proposed three-way partnership between Avianca, Copa Airlines, and United. The joint venture would allow the four carriers to operate as essentially a single airline between certain South American countries and the U.S.
Related: Azul could join Latin America alliance sought by United, Avianca, Copa
United owns an 8% stake in Azul.
The U.S. is not the only market where Azul is growing. On Tuesday, the airline agreed to buy Brazilian regional carrier TwoFlex in what analysts see as a play to expand its presence at slot-controlled São Paulo Congonhas (CGH) airport. Congonhas is the equivalent to New York LaGuardia (LGA) in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city.
Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth said in a report Tuesday that the TwoFlex deal would allow Azul to "increase relevance in the city of Sao Paulo."
Azul gained slots at Congonhas from the bankruptcy of Avianca Brasil last summer. It used the majority of those to launch a new shuttle between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU) — Brazil's busiest air route.
Azul operated nine A330s, including its first A330neo, with up to 298 seats at the end of September, its latest fleet plan shows. It plans to add three more A330-900s to its fleet in 2020.
Related: Star Alliance eyes Azul's network to fill its Brazil gap
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.