By the Caribbean Journal staff

In a potentially important move for the wider Caribbean travel industry, Brazil’s Azul and Colombia’s Avianca have signed an interline agreement.

The move by the two major Latin American carriers means the companies are now selling joint tickets for flights between their route networks.

That means customers can buy one ticket, check in one time and check bags through to their final destination on both airlines.

“This agreement with Avianca Holdings will be very important in strengthening our international presence, especially presenting Avianca’s Colombian service to our clients who want to explore Brazil,” said Marcelo Bento Ribeiro, Alliance Director at Azul. “Likewise, our clients can take advantage of the convenience of purchasing their tickets and issuing their boarding passes just one time, in addition to having access to several international destinations operated by our new partner.”

The move means far easier access for the increasingly important Brazilian market to Avianca’s vast network of flights in the Caribbean basin, largely through its Bogota hub.

— CJ