An airline takes the initiative
The first freighters in Embraer’s ‘F class’.
Plane-maker Embraer is assessing the viability of converted versions of the E190 and E195 of its E1 generation (see page 9 of ITJ 1-4 / 2022). Its compatriot, the airline Azul, has pressed ahead, in contrast, introducing its own E195 freighter version early in February.
Azul, a major player in the South American market, is the largest Brazilian airline in terms of daily flights (900) and airports served (140). The carrier has frequently been linked to a takeover of the Latam Group, which is in a financial restructuring process. It remains to be seen how these rumours develop.
Azul isn’t hanging about any longer in the cargo field, however. It teamed up with LHColus Tecnologia, an aeronautical services provider founded by the engineer Luís H. Colus, and converted an Embraer E195. It was declared airworthy by the Brazilian civil aviation authority on 1 February.
In comparison with passenger planes of this type, which have operated as cargo-only units since September 2020, the new version can carry heat and fire-resistant containers, and is thus equipped with a fire-alarm system based on infra-red cameras. This, and a capacity that has been more than doubled from 7 t to 15 t, have made the unit a veritable new category, according to Azul – the ‘F class’.
Azul Cargo is set to deploy four of them in the next few weeks. Chief revenue officer Abhi Shah said that the airline is “striving to once again transform the Brazilian market – this time in the logistics field.” In December the carrier gave a presentation which revealed that its cargo division doubled its income last year vis-à-vis 2019. With a market share of approximately 35% it sees itself as the Brazilian No. 1.