Au revoir, Paris: Azul pulls out of its longest route in network reshuffle
November 30, 2025
Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas has confirmed that it will be suspending flights between São Paulo and Paris altogether from next year as it rejigs its long-haul network. It is axing its longest European route with this move, which also follows recent European expansion announced by competitor LATAM Airlines to Brussels and Amsterdam.
This move was already revealed by this publication last week in our Saturday schedule update. The carrier removed its planned Paris resumption, originally slated for April 2026, according to schedules filed to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
It was its longest route, reaching 5,805 miles. Its second longest, between the Brazilian city and Madrid, comes in at 5,189 miles.
Earlier this week, in an emailed statement to Aerospace Global News, Azul confirmed the suspension of flights to Paris Orly as it prioritises other routes instead. This includes service to the United States, a market that it says presents “significant opportunities” for growth in the coming year.
Paris moves from summer seasonal to suspended
Earlier this year, Azul revealed that it would be making its route between São Paulo-Viracopos Airport (VCP) and Paris Orly Airport (ORY) seasonal, thus suspending operation during winter 2025/2026. Now, the route is being removed altogether.
LATAM and Air France also fly between the two cities, but use São Paulo-Guarulhos International (GRU) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airports.
Azul says that as part of its transformation plan, it is focused on meeting growing demand in certain international markets. It pointed to the United States where it has “already recorded growth of over 30% this year” and which it says presents considerable opportunity given the 2026 World Cup.
The event takes place in June and July across cities in the United States and Mexico. It will allow airlines to find incremental revenue thanks to the consumer’s higher willingness to pay. In other words, yields to the United States will likely be very healthy for Azul around the world Cup.
“This decision has been carefully evaluated to ensure the sustainability of operations and a focus on routes with greater potential, demand, and financial return,” an Azul spokesperson said of the Paris suspension. “The company emphasises that this decision may be reviewed in the future should changes in the scenario occur.”
Passenger loads on the route looked quite good
Azul is Brazil’s third-largest airline this year by number of international passengers carried so far this year, according to information from the country’s Civil Aviation Authority. LATAM Airlines and TAP Air Portugal rank first and second respectively.
Passenger numbers from Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority and capacity data from Cirium suggest that the airline’s load factors this year reached an average of 83%. Overall this year, it transported just under 135,000 passengers.
Its best month was in May with just under 15,000 two-way passengers, resulting in a load factor of 85%. Its worst month was February with just over 11,000 two-way passengers, filling 81% of capacity.
Airlines flying from São Paulo to Paris in Summer 2026
| Airline | Aircraft | Frequencies |
| Air France | Daily A350-900 + daily Boeing 777-300ER | 2 × daily (14 × weekly) |
| LATAM Airlines | Daily Boeing 787-9 | 1 × daily (7 × weekly) |
Though the range is not significant – reflecting Azul’s ability to maintain volume throughout the year – this says little about yields. The route suspension does not necessarily suggest poor performance, but it does point to a weaker market position especially relative to some of its other European destinations.
Its remaining Europe network is concentrated in Spain and Portugal which are strategic markets with stronger diaspora-related and business ties to Brazil.
As it seeks additional capacity to cater to a higher-yielding United States market in 2026, Paris was sacrificed. At least for now.
Featured image: Matheus Obst | stock.adobe.com
