Voepass

History

fleet size	10 (as of May 2025)

destinations	none

num employees	few (as of May 2025)

headquarters	Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

key people	• José Luiz Felício Filho (CEO & President)

founders	José Luiz Felício

website	www.voepass.com.br

Passaredo Transportes Aéreos (1995–2002)

Establishment

Founded by businessman José Luiz Felício, owner of the bus company Viação Passaredo and father of the airline's current president, José Luiz Felício Filho, Passaredo Transportes Aéreos began operations on July 3, 1995, with two Embraer EMB-120 Brasília, connecting cities such as Ribeirão Preto, Teresina, Goiânia, Brasília, São Paulo, Curitiba, São José dos Campos, Belo Horizonte and Vitória da Conquista. With the success of the flights, the company leased a third plane of the same model to reinforce its operations.[7]

In 1997, Passaredo introduced into service a twin-aisle Airbus A310-300 with capacity for 244 passengers, becoming the first Brazilian airline to operate it,[8] followed by a second aircraft to operate on domestic tourist charter flights to destinations in the

Accidents and incidents

On August 25, 2010, Passaredo Linhas Aéreas Flight 2231, operated by an Embraer ERJ-145, crashed on approach to Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. The plane landed short of the runway and the crew lost control, severely damaging the aircraft before it came to a stop away from the runway. Two of the twenty-seven people on board were injured. The airline said the plane was unable to lower landing gear, although observers said the landing gear was down while the aircraft was landing.[58]

On August 9, 2024, Voepass Flight 2283, operated by an ATR 72-500 (registered as PS-VPB), crashed in the municipality of Vinhedo, São Paulo. All 58 passengers and 4 crew members aboard died.[59] The flight was en route from Cascavel to São Paulo–Guarulhos.The preliminary report from Brazil's Centre for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), suggests that a buildup of ice on the plane could have been a significant factor in the crash.[60]

References

Directory: World Airlines Flight International, April 10, 2007^

Relatório de demanda e oferta do transporte aéreo National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, retrieved 15 February 2024^

Anac suspende operações aéreas da Voepass em caráter cautelar National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, 11 March 2025, retrieved 11 March 2025^

Rebranding to VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas (2019–2024)

In June 2019, GOL Linhas Aéreas and Passaredo expanded their commercial relationship through a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA), with the airline operating regional flights on behalf of GOL, initially connecting the hub at Brasília International Airport with São José do Rio Preto, Araguaína and Barreiras.[29] Over the years, the agreement was expanded, with Passaredo operating up to 14 destinations on flights marketed exclusively by GOL, but operated by Passaredo planes and crew.

Acquisition of MAP Linhas Aéreas

On August 21, 2019, Passaredo purchased MAP Linhas Aéreas, including 12 slots at São Paulo Congonhas Airport granted to MAP on August 14. Passaredo was granted 14 slots,[30] to build its own network, focusing on markets underserved. Both companies operated independently but were merged.[31] On the same day Passaredo also announced the change of its name to VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas.

2020s

On June 8, 2021, GOL Linhas Aéreas purchased MAP Linhas Aéreas from VOEPASS for R$120 million (US$25.4 million). Transaction included 26 slots at São Paulo Congonhas Airport belonging to MAP and VOEPASS.[32]

On November 3, 2022, the airline became a member of the International Air Transport Association.[33][34] Two days later, on November 5, 2022, it joined the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA).[35]

In April 2023, after ANAC released a new regulatory model the previous year that allowed airlines to sell slots without the need for an M&A agreement, GOL reversed its agreement to acquire MAP Linhas Aéreas

Partnership with LATAM Airlines

On April 11, 2023, LATAM Airlines started ticket sales to 13 regional destinations operated by VOEPASS, namely Ipatinga, Barreiras, Feira de Santana, Valença, Paulo Afonso, Teixeira de Freitas, Lençóis, Fernando de Noronha, Uruguaiana, Santa Maria, Pelotas, Santo Ângelo and Aracati, in addition to Coari, Carauari, Parintins, Itaituba and Parnaíba, operated by MAP Linhas Aéreas on behalf of VOEPASS.[40]

On September 20, 2023, tour operator CVC announced an exclusive partnership with VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas to launch exclusive flights from Belo Horizonte/Confins, Uberlândia, Rio de Janeiro/Santos Dumont, São José do Rio Preto, Bauru, Vitória and Brasília, mainly heading to destinations in the Northeast region, such as Porto Seguro, Ilhéus and Ilha de Comandatuba, in addition to

Acquisition by LATAM Airlines not realized

On March 14, 2024, the Fortaleza-based newspaper Diário do Nordeste announced, citing airline industry sources, that LATAM Airlines had acquired VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas to expand its operations in secondary and regional markets. The acquisition announcement, according to the newspaper, would be made by the two airlines during a Brazilian government event to launch a regional aviation incentive program.[42] Rumors increased with the publication of a Concentration Act in the Official Diary of the Union (DOU), the official journal of the federal government of Brazil, requested by the airlines, of an operation such as "acquisition of shares without acquisition of control".[43] Later, LATAM Airlines went public to clarify the information, signalling that it had not acquired the regional airline, but that it submitted to the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), a Brazilian antitrust body, the request to carry out a support operation financial support to VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas to optimize its slots to expand flight and destination options in the Brazilian airline market, with a possible future minority stake in VOEPASS just as one of the guarantee options for this operation. The giant Latin American airline, but did not provide details on how this support provided and how slots optimized.[44][45]

Suspended

Following the crash of Flight 2283 on August 9, 2024, Voepass came under the scrutiny of the media and public opinion. As a result, it began a restructuring process throughout its operational structure, from the reformulation of the flight network and the suspension of destinations, to the change of executives.[47] On September 25, 2024, after several questions related to maintenance problems reported, VOEPASS laid off directors of Operational Safety, Maintenance and Operations. The company's president and co-founder, José Luiz Felício Filho, assumed as chief executive officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Eduardo Busch, former CEO, assumed the position of Chief Legal Officer (CLO).[48] Subsequently, less than a month later, Busch was fired from the airline.[49] On November 7, 2024, VOEPASS suspended to sale tickets to its own destinations through its website, launching a route network that only included destinations sold exclusively by LATAM Airlines through a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA), in addition to its contract for the transportation of employees of the state-owned company Petrobras in the state of Amazonas.[50] On March 11, 2025, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil suspended all operating license of Voepass, citing the airline's "inability to solve irregularities identified during the supervision, as well as the violation of previously established conditions for the continuity of the operation within the required safety standards".[51] The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) had applied R$4.4 million in fines against Voepass since 2014. However, the company had only paid R$123 thousand, which corresponded to 2.79% of the total applied, 255 fines were issued.[52] On April 14, 2025, most of its employees were laid off.[53] On April 23, 2025, Voepass filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming financial woes caused by LATAM Airlines, reporting about 209.2 million reais ($36.78 million) in debt caused by the Flight 2283 crash.[54]

On 30 April 2025 Union requested in Justice freezing of Voepass assets to ensure payment of severance pay.[55] It is important to notice that according to the Brazilian legal system (and The Federal Reorganization & Bankruptcy Law), VOEPASS remains in business. Its bankruptcy protection ("concordata" in Portuguese) means time for reorganization. If unsuccessful in this first phase, a full bankruptcy is likely be declared "de officio" by the Federal Judge currently presiding over the case. In Brazil, a "de officio" decision refers to a judicial decision made by a presiding judge acting under a duty or responsibility, rather than at the request or initiative of a party involved in the case.[56] The airline eventually ceased operations on 24 June 2025.

subsidiaries
airline	VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas
iata	2Z
icao	PTB
callsign	PASSAREDO
founded	1995
commenced	July 3, 1995
ceased	June 24, 2025
hubs	Ribeirão Preto

Voepass

History

Passaredo Transportes Aéreos (1995–2002)

Establishment

Fleet

Current fleet

Gallery

Former fleet

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

References

2000s

Establishment

2000s

Return to Passaredo Linhas Aéreas (2004–2019)

2010s

2010s

Partnership with GOL Linhas Aéreas

Rebranding to VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas (2019–2024)

Acquisition of MAP Linhas Aéreas

2020s

Partnership with LATAM Airlines

Acquisition by LATAM Airlines not realized

Acquisition of MAP Linhas Aéreas

2020s

Partnership with LATAM Airlines

Acquisition by LATAM Airlines not realized

Suspended

Partnership with GOL Linhas Aéreas