Azul reinforces fleet with another second-hand A330-200
Azul Linhas Aéreas received another second-hand Airbus A330-200 on Saturday, which will reinforce its long-haul fleet.
The aircraft with registration PR-AIN departed from Teruel Airport, Spain, where it was stored, and flew to Confins, where Azul receives new aircraft.
It already displays the Brazilian airline’s livery, unlike two A330-900s recently acquired in a hurry.
The jet, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engines, belongs to the lessor Avolou and flew with Condor until December after operating for many years with Etihad Airways.
Avolon is expected to supply another A330-200 soon, registered PR-AIL, which also flew with Condor. A third widebody that was in Avianca’s fleet and flew in Brazil is also expected to join the fleet.
There are currently four A330-200s in service, but they will be returned as new A330neos are delivered in the coming years.
Debt and lack of aircraft
The ex-Condor A330-200 will help Azul meet international demand, which has been affected after the return of two Airbus A350-900s between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
The jets, although efficient, were configured to carry 334 passengers, slightly above the 300 seats of the A330-900, which will be the company’s only widebody aircraft in the future.
Azul is going through a challenging financial moment, amid the maturity of short-term debts and leasing contracts with very high values, according to market analysts.
In recent days, the airline was the subject of a Bloomberg report in which a possible Chapter 11 filing in the US was revealed. Azul denied this, although it acknowledges that it is seeking alternatives to recapitalize itself.
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