Well, it looks like Neeleman's new Brasilian carrier has finally gotten off the ground. See below.
Right now the route map is limited but, apparently, they have good expansion plans. Another competitor in the Brasilian market is certainly needed (though I'm not sure any of them are doing very well right now). Yet, its a brand new fleet, modeled after the JetBlue approach and gives passengers additional flight options. Let us wish it well . . .
The Sao Paulo flights actually leave from VCP outside of Campinas. Is there any ground transport from Sao Paulo downtown or one of the SP bus terminals direct to VCP or would you have to go to SP-Campinas bus terminal-VCP
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3544quebec
The Sao Paulo flights actually leave from VCP outside of Campinas. Is there any ground transport from Sao Paulo downtown or one of the SP bus terminals direct to VCP or would you have to go to SP-Campinas bus terminal-VCP
Thanks for the link but this company goes from the Sao Paulo airports to the Campinas bus station and then has another service from Campinas bus station to Viracopos. So from downtown Sao Paulo to Viracopas involves 3 different buses and at least 3 hours travel plus transfers. A direct service from a Sao Paulo bus station or downtown to Viracopos should be about an hour and a half if such a thing exists.
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Not sure if such a thing exists, yet. I also found some articles indicating that since the horrible year they had air traffic wise in Brazil, officials have recognized the need to provide better connection between the three airports. One article even mentions plans for train service. However, at a distance of 62 miles from SP, is VCP a realistic option if your business is actually in SP, and not in Campinas? While Azul indicated that it would attempt to fly more direct routes between various cities in Brazil and not focus on a hub as TAM and GOL do, it seems that with only 4 a/c to start with, they are doing just that, with VCP as the hub. I was looking at VIX-CWB in January, and it routes through VCP.
I agree with you that VCP is probably not going to be a realistic alternative airport to Congonhas if your business is in Sao Paulo for business travellers but for the price sensitive traveller it certainly could be and it could certainly compete with Cumbica (GRU).
Downtown Sao Paulo to GRU is about 45mins-1hr+, Downtown Sao Paulo to VCP should be about 90+ mins depending on time of day.
If there is no direct transport from Sao Paulo to VCP then you are looking at minimum 3 hrs travel and R60 in bus fares from Sao Paulo to VCP.
Campinas itself is a reasonably small market and I don't think can sustain the 5 flights a day to Salvador so Azul must be looking at it as a SAO alternative.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3544quebec
Downtown Sao Paulo to GRU is about 45mins-1hr+, Downtown Sao Paulo to VCP should be about 90+ mins depending on time of day.
Don't forget about the traffic jams in SP. It could be considerably longer. One of my flights from GRU this year was delayed because the crew was stuck in traffic trying to get to the airport.
If I fly IAD-GRU, and then continue to VIX, the price on TAM or GOL is going to be about the same or even less if the 60 Reais for bus fare is added to get to VCP and take AZUL. Not to mention the time. Just doesn't seem like it will work for me in this instance.
However, the wife has talked about going to Curitiba, and the price on AZUL in Jan 09 is a little less than 500 Reais, VIX-CWB, roundtrip while previously the cheapest fare I could find was 750 Reais. So domestically AZUL can prove to be a good deal if their price structure holds as they get more a/c and add more routes.
Agree- if you're not originating in SAO then it might work out. And there might be enough Curitiba and Porto Alegre combined with Campinas originating passengers to make the frequencies to Salvador viable.
Then your point about Azul becoming just another hub airline, only with a different hub, is true.
If you company or office is in Alphaville, and important and booming business area in Sao Paulo, it is better to drive to VCP rather than GRU. This is one of the business areas which Azul wants to capture. In fact, Azul HQ is located in Alphaville.
Another expectation is that Azul is lobbying the Government to open Rio's centrally located SDU airport for domestic flights and their plan is to open a number of nonstop destinations from SDU (currently only intra-Rio de Janeiro and shuttle service to CGH can operate from SDU, all other flights operated out of GIG).
