Economy

Amid pandemic, mysterious airline set to launch in Brazil

The coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the aviation industry. But a 33-year-old Brazilian entrepreneur is launching his own airline

Amid pandemic, mysterious airline set to launch in Brazil
Image: André Chiavassa/TBR

Things look particularly grim in the aviation sector amid the pandemic. Three major Latin American carriers recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S., and earlier this week we showed how airport administrators fear a total collapse of their businesses. Meanwhile, lockdowns and remote-work trend the USD 1.5-trillion business travel industry — which encompasses transportation, hospitality, and much more. Sounds like the worst possible moment to open an airline, right? Well, not if you are a 33-year-old hawkish CEO with money to spare.

That appears to be precisely what Brazilian entrepreneur Maurício Souza is.

While the aviation industry seems to be in shreds, with a 90-percent drop in passengers in May, the millennial executive — who presents himself as the “owner of a conglomerate with core business in investments, transportation, and technology” — launched Nella Linhas Aéreas, which promises to be a low-cost carrier providing regional flights to medium-sized destinations currently outside of airlines’ destination map. 

To cater to that demand, the new company claims to have four ATR-42 units — a twin-turboprop, short-haul regional aircraft which can fly up to 42 passengers in a single travel class. Nella was created with a capital of less than USD 1 million and plans to invest about USD 2.9 million in its first year. Despite the timid investment for industry standards, the firm promises to offer affordable tickets, on-board service, and have a frequent flyer program. It also plans to get the same certifications as major carriers.

Mr. Souza doesn’t seem fazed by the scenario imposed by the pandemic — as a matter of fact, he feels elated. “It is during tough moments that great opportunities arise,” he told The Brazilian Report in a phone interview from his home in Orlando. Businessmen in Brazil like to evoke a...

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