Azul Linhas Aéreas started operating on Tuesday, the 3rd, the new direct flight between Afonso Pena International Airport in Curitiba and Asunción Airport in Paraguay. The inaugural operation recorded high demand, with all 136 available seats occupied.

Additionally, the airline announced daily flights between Curitiba and Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina, which will be available during the high season, from December 16, 2024, to February 2, 2025.

Governor Carlos Ratinho Junior highlighted the positive impact of these new routes for Paraná. “This new route between Curitiba and Florianópolis, along with the flights to Asunción, shows how Paraná is consolidating itself as a strategic hub for tourism and the generation of new business,” he stated, in comments reproduced by our associated media in Brazil, AEROIN.

According to Ratinho Junior, the state has invested in infrastructure and the modernization of airports, attracting partnerships that help connect Paraná with other states and Latin America. The Curitiba airport will also have a new runway in the coming years.

“This not only facilitates tourist access but also creates new economic opportunities for the people of Paraná. It is an important step in positioning Paraná as a reference in tourism,” he added.

The new flight to Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, will be operated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with Brazilian-made Embraer E2 aircraft, with a capacity for 136 passengers.

“From now on, Curitiba has a new international flight that will be key to developing tourism and business between the two countries,” explained César Grandolfo, Institutional Relations Manager at Azul.

Inaugural Flight and Route Potential

To celebrate the inaugural flight between Asunción and Curitiba, a ceremony was held at Afonso Pena Airport on Tuesday. During the event, Vice Governor Darci Piana celebrated the new connection. “Tourism in Paraná is at a new level. New routes and partnerships are strategically placing the state on the world map,” he highlighted.

This new route expands Curitiba’s international connections, which recently added direct flights to Montevideo (Uruguay), Santiago (Chile), Lima (Peru), and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

In Asunción, Azul also started flying this week from Campinas, and by the end of the month, Recife and Florianópolis will be added.

Pharmaceutical Luz Marina Duarte, one of the passengers on the inaugural flight from Asunción, expressed her satisfaction. A resident of Asunción but a former inhabitant of Curitiba for 30 years, she commented: “It’s very convenient. Before, to come here, I had to go through São Paulo or even travel by bus. Now it’s quick and direct.”

Similarly, Leticia Gonzalez’s family, an administrator, celebrated the new connection after landing in Curitiba with her husband, daughter, and mother. “It’s fabulous. We always chose Paraná as a tourist and work destination, and now, in just 1h15, we’re here,” she said.

Pedro Falcon, marketing director of a tour operator, emphasized that this route already had latent demand. “Paraguayans love the beach, and they don’t have one at home. Paraná is a nearby destination with beaches, but before, it required several stops to get there. Since the announcement in October, we’ve already received numerous bookings for groups that will enjoy the summer here,” he commented.

According to the Secretary of Tourism, Márcio Nunes, it is expected that by the end of 2024, more than 800,000 tourists will visit Paraná. “This represents a potential of 1 billion reais in the state economy due to tourism activity. Paraná takes care of both its residents and its visitors, with flight options, infrastructure, and safety,” he highlighted.

For his part, the CEO of Viaje Paraná, Irapuan Cortes, pointed out that the new flights are part of promoting the state as a reference destination. “Tourism also depends on connectivity, so the start of this new route is very important,” he assured.

Florianópolis

The daily flights between Curitiba and Florianópolis will be operated with ATR 72-600 aircraft, with a capacity for 70 passengers. Departures from Curitiba are scheduled for 15:30, with a return at 17:00, until February 2, 2025.

During the high season, Azul will also increase operations in the state with 123 additional flights from Curitiba to destinations such as Recife (PE), Maceió (AL), São Paulo/Congonhas (SP), Belo Horizonte/Confins (MG), Porto Alegre (RS), and Campinas/Viracopos (SP), adding more than 14,000 extra seats.

«This new high-season route will further increase connectivity for Curitiba residents and people from Paraná. Additionally, we will offer direct flights to two very popular destinations in the Northeast: Recife and Maceió,” highlighted César Grandolfo.