A Azul anunciou um aumento de capital de R$ 512,8 milhões após a American Airlines concluir um investimento e exercer a totalidade dos bônus de subscrição das ações ordinárias que detinha da aérea brasileira.
O anúncio foi feito na noite desta terça (20) em fato relevante divulgado pela companhia.
Segundo a Azul, a companhia emitiu 31,8 milhões de ações para a American. Ao todo, após a operação a aérea ficou com 400,83 milhões de papéis em circulação.
Diante do exercício dos Bônus de Subscrição da American, o CEO da Azul, John Rodgerson, renunciou aos cargos como membro efetivo do Conselho de Administração e do Comitê Estratégico da companhia.
Jeff Ogar, executivo da American Airlines e atual chefe de parcerias, assumiu as funções.
Como mostrou a CNN, no começo do mês o Cade (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica) aprovou a aquisição pela American de uma participação minoritária de aproximadamente 8% no capital social da Azul, mediante uma celebração de um ACC (Acordo em Controle de Concentrações).
A operação envolveu investimentos de US$ 100 milhões e se dá após a reestruturação financeira da companhia brasileira sob o Chapter 11, processo de recuperação nos Estados Unidos.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Air Group is the latest US air carrier to shore up its premium seating offerings — part of an industry-wide boom to cater to passengers who will pay more for premium perks.
In September, Alaska Air Group, which operates Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, unveiled a new premium economy cabin called "Premium Reserve" and upgraded business-class suites. The new cabins are planned for long-haul international flights and select domestic routes.
Since acquiring Hawaiian for nearly $2 billion in 2024, Alaska has been pursuing its "Alaska Accelerate" plan to expand its premium offerings and international presence from its Seattle hub, including two new routes to Japan and Tahiti starting in 2027.
With its upgrades and expansion, Alaska increasingly looks like a major global carrier rather than the largely domestic airline it was once known as.
"We believe premium is more than a seat," Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, said in a statement. "It's how guests feel from the moment they book their trip to the moment they arrive at the airport, to when they're in the air with us."
Available to book on both airlines starting next summer, Alaska and Hawaiian's new premium economy will feature wide reclining seats with leg and calf rests and a pitch — or the distance from one seat to the seat in front of it — of 38 inches.
It will also include a 16-inch, Bluetooth-capable screen, outlets and USB-C charging ports, and upgraded in-flight dining menus.
Alaska Air Group
Alaska already offers a premium-economy-like cabin called Premium Class, but the cabin type will be a first for Hawaiian.
Premium Reserve will be available on Alaska's 787 and select 737 Max 10 aircraft, as well as Hawaiian's A330 fleet, with flights beginning in 2028. Alaska doesn't yet have the Max 10, which was nearing the finish line for certification after years of delays tied to safety and quality concerns. But CNBC reported on Monday that regulators have again delayed certification due to a newly discovered software issue.
Beyond premium economy, lie-flat business class — called "Aurora Suites" on Alaska and "Leihōkū Suites" on Hawaiian to retain each airline's distinct branding — has gotten a refresh.
Alaska Air Group
Hawaiian's Leihōkū Suite, its 787 business-class product, serves select routes to Asia, Oceania, and North America. It will be added to the A330 and feature "hotel-quality bedding and enhanced onboard amenities."
Alaska's Aurora Suites will be deployed on all 787 Dreamliners and include upgraded upholstery and materials. Both suites will have sliding doors, Bluetooth, big in-flight screens, and access to airport lounges.
Aurora will also be installed on 737 Max 10 planes flying select transcontinental routes, joining the increasing number of airline narrowbody planes with lie-flat premium seats.
Alaska Airlines
These premium cabins won't be cheap. A round-trip business-class flight from Seattle to Tokyo in mid-March is about $6,500 on Alaska; the same seat to London is about $5,300. Basic economy is about one-fifth of each of those business-class fares.
Hawaiian Airlines' fleet of A330s will also offer new nonstop flights from Seattle to Osaka, Japan, and Papeete, Tahiti, beginning in May and June 2027, respectively. Introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares will start at $1,199 to Osaka and $999 to Papeete; the planes will have Hawaiian's existing business-class product until the fleet's new interiors begin rolling out in 2028.
Alaska is facing fierce competition. It's up against legacy US carriers with already massive widebody fleets, extensive international networks, and well-established premium products.
The airline knows it's playing catch-up.
"I think where you're seeing strength with the legacy carriers is in the premium space and in the international space," Minicucci said in an April 2026 earnings call. "And if you look at our strategy under Alaska Accelerate, that's exactly where we're leaning into."
In post-COVID air travel, US airlines are moving away from packing as many people as possible into economy to increase revenue. Instead, they are pivoting toward customers who will spend more on premium travel experiences, such as airline lounges and higher-tier in-flight amenities.
A McKinsey analysis published in June found that on transatlantic wide-body flights, business-class cabins are earning almost as much as economy cabins, even though they carry far fewer passengers.
That premium demand has remained despite rising oil prices and soaring airfares amid the war in Iran, partly buoyed by continued spending from more affluent travelers.
"The folks who are more oriented towards purchasing into our premium cabins have been super resilient," Minicucci said in a 2025 earnings call.
Alaska Air Group
United Airlines' director of onboard products and partnerships, Peter Wolkowski, told Business Insider during the UK's Farnborough Airshow in July that premium economy is its fastest-growing cabin on the company's 787 fleet.
In 2025, Delta's premium revenue increased 7% year-over-year, while its main cabin revenue decreased. On an earnings call in October 2025, then-Delta president Glen Hauenstein predicted that premium revenue was expected to exceed Main Cabin revenue by 2027.
"When you think about what's different and what's changed over the last 10 or 15 years, the premium products used to be loss leaders, and now they're the highest-margin products," he said.
An American Airlines flight from Spain experienced brake issues and a blown tire after landing at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
American Airlines Flight 41, a Boeing 787-800 traveling from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport in Spain, landed safely at O'Hare around 2:30 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Fox News Digital in a statement.
The FAA said the crew reported a brake issue followed by "a blown tire" after landing.
"Passengers deplaned via stairs and were bused to the terminal," the FAA said, adding that the agency "will investigate."
The airline said 234 passengers and 11 crew members were aboard.
American Airlines said first responders met the aircraft "out of an abundance of caution" and that passengers were safely transported to the terminal by bus.
The airline said the aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection by its maintenance team and apologized to customers for the experience.
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The cause of the reported brake malfunction remains unclear.
The Chicago Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
This is a developing story; check back later for updates.
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