Azul Conecta, the regional subsidiary of Azul Linhas Aéreas, was the sole bidder in the state of Santa Catarina’s VOA + SC tender, authorities confirmed on 24 July. The programme aims to subsidise new air links between Florianópolis and nine interior cities—among them Joaçaba, Lages and Joinville—by offering an average fare ceiling of R$ 450 per flight-hour and up to R$ 22.5 million in first-year state support. The single-bid outcome means Azul Conecta is almost certain to secure the contract after technical-qualification checks conclude next week. Services are expected to start in November with Cessna C208 Grand Caravan aircraft configured for nine passengers, increasing seat inventory on corridors now dominated by lengthy road travel. For corporate mobility planners, the new network could cut door-to-door travel times within Santa Catarina by up to 70 %, easing transfers for agribusiness, textile and tech firms that cluster outside the capital. The state’s tourism board projects an additional 120,000 passengers in the first 12 months, boosting hotel occupancy in secondary cities. The subsidy model mirrors the “Voe Minas” and “Voa SP” schemes and may inspire similar tenders in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul if successful. However, critics warn that relying on a single carrier could reduce competition and keep fares elevated once public funding tapers. Businesses should watch the final contract terms—especially minimum-service guarantees and penalty clauses for cancellations—to gauge reliability before shifting ground-transport budgets to air travel.
Source: Rádio Fronteira
