Miami,
27
June
2017
|
18:03 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

MIA celebrates launch of São Paulo service by Avianca Brasil

The daily service marks airline’s first passenger route to a U.S. destination

On June 26, officials from Miami-Dade County, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and Avianca Brasil gathered at Miami International Airport to celebrate the launch of the airline’s daily Miami-São Paulo service, marking Avianca Brasil’s first passenger route to a U.S. destination and only its second outside of South America.

I commend the MIA team for continually attracting new international air service to our community. It is especially encouraging to see increased service from our top international market of Brazil, which had a downturn in travel last year.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez

The June 26 celebration included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, commemorative cake and refreshments with passengers, and a water-cannon salute from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue before Avianca Brasil’s Monday departure to São Paulo.

Avianca Brasil’s first Miami-bound flight left Sao Paulo (GRU) on Friday, June 23, at 11:55 p.m. and landed at MIA at 7:25 a.m. on Saturday, June 24. The new daily nonstop passenger flights are serviced by Airbus A330-200 aircraft that seat 238 passengers.

We are honored that Avianca Brasil has chosen to expand its operations at MIA, and also make Miami its first passenger route outside of South America. While we continue to pursue routes in untapped regions across the globe, we are also working to strengthen air service in our stronghold areas of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González

MIA currently serves an average of 71 weekly non-stop passenger flights to eight cities in Brazil, which is the most of any U.S. airport. Avianca Brasil will be the airport's third airline serving Brazil, MIA's top international market in 2015 with more than 2.1 million total passengers.

At Avianca Brasil, we are experiencing an exciting transition and new cycle of growth. We are building a stronger, more mature and more competitive carrier. Due to the large concentration of Brazilians visiting and living in South Florida, we decided to launch long-haul operations at this time because we understand that there are good business opportunities and a chance to provide high quality services to international travelers.
Frederico Pedreira, Chief Executive Officer, Avianca Brasil

Avianca Brasil is the eighth international passenger airline to schedule a service launch into the Miami market this year. Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris began four weekly flights to Guadalajara and daily service to Mexico City on February 1; Canadian airline First Air began charter passenger flights on February 4 from Ontario; low-cost transatlantic airline WOW air launched thrice-weekly service to Reykjavík, Iceland on April 5; BVI Airways is scheduled to launch first-ever nonstop service between Tortola, British Virgin Islands and MIA on July 22; Aer Lingus will launch three weekly flights to Dublin, Ireland on September 1; SAS will begin weekly service to Stockholm, Sweden on October 29; and EL AL Israel Airlines will begin three weekly flights from Tel Aviv on November 1. MIA currently serves 106 airlines, which is the most of any U.S. airport.

To request materials in accessible format, Sign Language Interpreters, CART services and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) public meetings and events please email the ADA Office at ADAcoordinator@miami-airport.com or call the office in 305-876-7747 five days in advance to initiate your request. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).