Air Europa will be introducing a new service from London Gatwick to the Brazilian city of Recife in December 2017, via Madrid. 

The twice-weekly route will start on December 20 – operating on Wednesdays and Fridays – with the addition of a third weekly flight expected in 2018.

It’s the third Brazilian destination for the airline, after Salvador de Bahia, which it has served since 2003, and Sao Paulo, since 2013.

To improve connectivity within Brazil, Air Europa maintains a code-sharing agreement with Avianca Brasil, with a codeshare on several weekly domestic flights, which links Recife to other parts of the country.

Air Europa’s UK managing director Colin Stewart said: “We are thrilled about the launch of this route – particularly as Air Europa will be the first airline to fly from London to Recife via Madrid. As our third Brazilian destination, this consolidates our presence in the country.”

Flights from London Gatwick to Recife start from £651 return in January 2018.