Brazilian Airline to Evaluate Chinese-Made Aircraft for Fleet Expansion

TOTAL Linhas Aéreas, primarily dedicated to charter, cargo, and mail flights, is exploring the possibility of acquiring aircraft from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) as part of its expansion plan to re-enter the regular passenger flight market.

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According to our associated media outlet in Brazil, Aeroin, company executives will travel to China in October to evaluate the ARJ21, a regional model with a capacity for 78 to 97 passengers. The invitation to the Brazilian company highlights the strengthening of aerospace negotiations between Brazil and China, and involves not only the acquisition of the ARJ21 but also COMAC’s C919 model, which competes with the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320 families.

The Brazilian government is encouraging airlines to increase their presence in secondary airports with turboprop and regional jet aircraft, a strategy TOTAL aims to take advantage of.

COMAC, for its part, is actively working with several regulatory authorities to certify its models and enter the Western market, traditionally dominated by Airbus and Boeing.

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See also: In search of foreign clients for the C919, COMAC may open offices outside China

Expansion plans and TOTAL’s return to regular passenger flights

TOTAL Linhas Aéreas is in a transformation phase that includes its return to regular passenger flights, with a focus on the regional market. The airline plans to establish its operations hub at the Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB) in Brasília, from where it expects to offer an extensive network of regional flights.

Currently, TOTAL operates with a fleet of four Boeing 737-400 SF for cargo flights and one ATR 42-300. It has contracts with Petrobras, transporting their personnel. The last time TOTAL operated regular flights was in 2007, before being replaced by the now-defunct TRIP Linhas Aéreas, which was later acquired by Azul Linhas Aéreas.

The airline has reserved registrations in the Brazilian Aeronautical Registry (RAB) for two ATR 72 and is in negotiations to add a third ATR 72-500, reinforcing its intention to return with a modern and efficient fleet. Now, the evaluation of the COMAC ARJ21 could add a new dimension to its expansion plan.