Azul’s leadership team is “really confident” that its proposed business combination with Brazilian competitor Gol will deliver long-term growth. That is according to Azul president Abhi Shah, who explained why Azul believes the combination makes sense during the company’s recent year-end earnings call. “We have very low overlap between Azul’s network and Gol’s network,” he says. “And we think that the low overlap is a key driver to future growth.” Azul wants to grow its domestic network to 200 cities, Shah says, and the company believes it can hit that target ”when we have these networks that are not overlapping, that are very complementary”. The carrier currently flies to more than 150 domestic destinations. Under a memorandum of understanding signed in January by Azul and Abra Group – parent of Gol and Colombia’s Avianca – the companies are exploring the feasibility of creating Brazil’s largest airline. Azul and Gol would both maintain separate customer-facing brands and operating certificates. Gol is currently undergoing a Chapter 11 restructuring process in US bankruptcy court, while Azul recently completed a financial restructuring by eliminating R$12.3b ($2.1b) in debt. <br/>
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Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air is to reinforce its UK presence with services to London Gatwick ahead of the summer season. The airline – which already operates to London Heathrow – will fly three-times weekly from Bahrain. Gulf Air says it will deploy Boeing 787-9s on the new route which begins on 30 March. The configuration of the aircraft will include 26 seats in the business-class cabin. Gulf Air says the Gatwick operation will “complement” its current London flights. The airline uses 787s on its Heathrow link. “This expansion reflects the growing demand for travel between [Bahrain and the UK],” it states, adding that the connection is a “significant step” to expanding the airline’s network. “We are confident this service will not only provide greater travel options for Gulf Air’s passengers but also boost trade and tourism opportunities between the two countries.”<br/>
European legislators have decided to ease certain sanctions against Syrian Arab Airlines, following the collapse of the Bashar Al-Assad government. The European Council states that it is suspending a number of restrictive measures against Syrian entities in order to facilitate recovery in the energy, financial and transport sectors. It has identified Syrian Arab Airlines among five entities which have been subject to freezing of funds and economic resources. The Council says it will “remove” these five entities from this sanctions list. This decision is part of the European Union’s efforts to support an inclusive political transition in Syria, as well as swift economic recovery, reconstruction, and stabilisation,” it states. “As a part of a gradual approach and in a next step, the Council will assess whether further restrictive measures could be suspended.” The sanctions have been used to pressure the Al-Assad government which, the Council says, was responsible for “violent repression” of the civilian population. “Fall of the Al-Assad regime marks the beginning of a new era of hope for the Syrian people,” it adds.<br/>