Brazil’s Azul Conecta starts ramping up C208EX fleet

Azul Conecta (2F, Jundiaí) has taken delivery of two Cessna (single turboprop) C208EX Grand Caravans – its first since its takeover by Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras – and expects to add an additional three units of the type by the first quarter of 2022.

PS-CNT (msn 208B-5647) and PS-CNA (msn 208B-5648) have yet to leave the Textron Aviation site at Wichita Eisenhower. They are expected to arrive in Brazil by October 6. According to Brazilian aviation portal Aeroin, they will initially fly to Belém for customs clearance and then will be ferried onwards to the carrier’s home base at Jundiaí airport.

Azul Conecta expects to take another C208EX by the end of 2021 and a further two in early 2022. On top of these five orders, the carrier also has options for a further five aircraft.

Including the two newly delivered turboprops, Azul Conecta currently operates 18 units of the type (including three in a permanent cargo configuration operated under the Azul Cargo Express brand). Azul acquired the company, then known as TwoFlex Táxi Aéreo Inteligente, in May 2020 to strengthen its regional network. Recently, the carrier said it would focus on the Amazonas region.