Azul increases dispute in cargo transport
DCI
With a plan to become the new major player of the air cargo transport market in the country, the Azul Linhas Aéreas company bets on that niche as it foresees the creation of a distribution center in the Airport of Congonhas, in São Paulo. The goal is to carry 50 tons of cargo a day, compared to the 15 tons carried today, that is, to reach its maximum capacity. The company, which has been in operation for little more than a year, thinks on turning the airport into one of its main bases of operation of cargo, and it affirms it will have an operating profit already this year.
Rival of leaders Absa Cargo, JadLog, Variglog, TAM Cargo and Gollog, Azul Cargo foresees increasing its coverage area to 3,800 cities, compared to the 2,000 municipalities served today, through a greater number of routes and planes. "This year we will increase the amount of flights after receiving seven aircrafts, which will allow us to reach the goal. The strategy is to use our planes to the fullest: while we carry our customers we make deliveries as well", commented the Logistics Director of Azul Cargo, Antônio Flávio Costa, at the headquarters of the company, in Alphaville (SP).
According to the Director, the company has concrete plans of erecting a distribution center (DC) in Congonhas, in order to facilitate the access of the clients. "Most of our clients are in São Paulo, therefore we have interest in creating a DC there", he said. Created in August 2009, Azul Cargo uses part of the space available in its aircrafts to carry the cargo they deliver. Each aircraft can carry, on the average, 800 kilos per flight. "The idea is to grant the carriage of cargo the same differential of our company: punctuality, regularity and quality service. Besides, we do mix the passenger baggage to the cargo to be delivered", said Costa.
Even though Azul already owns a cargo aircraft and intends to enlarge its base in order to only then test the large aircraft, Costa assures: "We have to increase our businesses to use a cargo airplane; however we will make tests with the plane without its paint until the end of the year". The result presented by air freight sector in the country, including shipments in the domestic market, exports and imports, registered a 12.37% fall in 2009 when compared to the previous year, according to data collected by the Infraero (Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company).