Azul ends A350 operations

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) has ferried its last A350-900 out of Brazil, putting an end to the type's brief stint at the carrier, ch-aviation research has revealed.

PR-AOY (msn 168) flew from São Paulo Viracopos to Fort Lauderdale International on Tuesday, April 9 under flight number AD9840, which is only used for ferry operations and was last deployed when the airline retired its other A350, PR-AOW (now HS-THY, msn 124), flying it to San Bernardino, according to Flightradar24 ADS-B data.

The Brazilian carrier operated the A350-900 type between September 2022 and January 2024. The original plan was for the model to be part of its fleet renewal plan and replace its A330-200s, chief executive John Rodgerson said in September 2022.

However, one year later, Azul moved away from the A350 and instead focused on the A330-900N, placing an order for four aircraft of the type in June 2023. CFO Alexandre Malfitani said at the time that with the A330neo operating and on order, “we will standardise our international fleet.”

ch-aviation has reached out to Azul for comment.

PR-AOY is owned and managed by AerCap, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. HS-THY, owned by the same lessor, is under maintenance at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and will enter into service for Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi).

Azul’s fleet now comprises 166 aircraft: forty-nine A320-200Ns, six A321-200NX(LR)s, four A330-200s, five A330-900Ns (with nine more coming), thirty-seven ATR72-600s, two B737-400(F)s, forty-three E195s, and twenty E195-E2s. Regional subsidiary Azul Conecta (2F, Jundiaí) operates a fleet of twenty-four Cessna Aircraft Company Grand Caravan turboprops.
CH Aviation