When an economic crisis erupted in the largest country in South America in 2015, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras has canceled the recently signed lease contract for five Airbus A350 aircraft.. The aircraft were sublet to the Chinese HNA Group. But this customer also had problems and no longer wanted them. Then there was Covid-19. Thus the new aircraft was stored in Tarbes, France.

However, in the spring of 2022, the first rejected long-haul aircraft suddenly began to move again. Azul decided to continue relying on the Airbus A350. Meanwhile, the first example, which has already worn the colors of HNA’s Hong Kong airline, received Azul paint. On Wednesday (September 14), the A350-900 with serial number 168 arrived in Brazil. Landed at Belo Horizonte Airport.

Two Airbus A350s by the end of the year

In Azul, the five-year-old A350 will receive PR-AOY registration and the baptismal name 50 também é Azul. The plane will be registered in Brazil in the coming weeks and will be used for crew training. The airline expects a second A350 by the end of the year. The two aircraft replaced two Airbus A330-200s. competitor LATAM decided in the crisis Airbus A350 to float.

In the gallery above, you can see photos of the first Airbus A350 from Azul.