Azul Conecta links nine cities in Santa Catarina with Caravan fleet
A state-backed program will fund regional feeder services using Cessna 208B aircraft starting November 3.
Azul Conecta will launch scheduled regional services across Santa Catarina on November 3 under the state-sponsored VOA + SC program, initiating operations between Florianópolis and Joaçaba. The feeder network uses Florianópolis as a central hub to connect nine interior cities: Blumenau, Caçador, Correia Pinto, Criciúma/Forquilhinha, Jaguaruna, Joaçaba, Joinville, Lages, and São Miguel do Oeste. Seven of these points will operate non-stop to the capital, while Jaguaruna links only with Joinville and São Miguel do Oeste connects via Correia Pinto.
The carrier will operate nine-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX turboprops. Flight schedules incorporate two weekly round trips per destination, while the Florianópolis-Joinville sector features three frequencies. Rotation design addresses regional airport infrastructure and local meteorological trends by scheduling coastal sectors earlier in the day before westward routes.
The initiative involves an annual state subsidy of up to 22.5 million BRL (around 4.5 million USD) covering up to 160 flight hours monthly. Azul Conecta, which operates a similar network in Paraná, won the tender as the sole bidder. The service order signed on August 13 established a 90-day operational deadline. Fares range between 315 BRL and 815 BRL per sector.
Why it matters for your training
Regional feeder routes demonstrate how single-engine turboprop networks and subsidized flight hours maintain connectivity across remote airfields with specific meteorological conditions.
Sources
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