Brazilian low-cost carrier Azul has unveiled plans to launch service in March to Goiania in central Brazil.

Azul says in a statement today that Goiania will become its 17th destination on 3 March. Azul will initially operate three daily flights to Goiania from its base at Campinas outside Sao Paulo.

According to Innovata, no carrier currently links Goiania, the capital of Goias state, with Campinas. But Brazil's two largest carriers, TAM and Gol, both serve the city from the two other Sao Paulo area airports - Congonhas and Guarulhos. Each airline operates four daily non-stop flights on the Congonhas-Goiania route and two daily flights on the Guarulhos-Goiania route.

Azul, which operates domestically using Embraer E-190s and E-195s, launched services in December 2008. It has rapidly been expanding its fleet and network, having already become Brazil's third largest carrier with over two million passengers carried in 2009.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news