Brazilian airline Azul has filed a petition in connection with the judicial recovery process of Avianca Brasil to hold a new competitive bid for the acquisition of a new isolated productive unit (new UPI) for a minimum bid price of US$145 million.
The carrier said in a statement: “The New UPI consists of certain slot pairs of Avianca Brasil, including flights for the shuttle service between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
“The Company believes that the sale of this single New UPI will provide Avianca Brasil’s employees, customers, creditors, and other interested parties, a legal and legitimate alternative to maintain its business as a going concern in light of the rapid deterioration of the company’s activities.
“The New UPI also provides for a real competitive alternative to the significant market concentration that exists today in the shuttle service between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
“This petition does not invalidate the sale process of the seven UPIs established by Avianca Brasil’s judicial recovery plan, recently suspended by the Justice Court of São Paulo.
“On the contrary, Azul believes it offers a comprehensible and viable alternative that can actually be implemented from an operational, regulatory and competitive perspective.
“The plan presented is subject to a number of precedents, including regulatory and court approvals. Azul will keep the market informed of any relevant developments.”
