Pantanal Drops Domestic Destinations

Brazilian regional carrier Pantanal Linhas Aéreas has suspended flights to the cities of Araçatuba, Ribeirão Preto and São José do Rio Preto, in the state of São Paulo, and Juiz de Fora and Uberaba, in Minas Gerais as it retires its five ATR 42-300s from passenger service. The closure of these routes was originally expected to take place at the end of July but was instead brought forward to July 5. The move is part of a restructuring and repositioning of the airline by its owner TAM.

Pantanal will instead expand its fleet of Airbus narrowbodies, using five of six A319s and A320s on flights. Links to Bauru, previously served by an ATR will be maintained using an A319, although passengers flying to the other destinations will instead have to fly on the aircraft of TAM or through a codeshare with regional carrier Trip Linhas Aéreas.