China's HNA Group, the biggest shareholder of Azul Brazilian Airlines, will take delivery of two Airbus A350-900 jetliners the Brazilian company had expected to receive in 2018.

In November 2014, the Brazilian company signed a lease agreement with AerCap for five A350-900s and 20 A320neos. Deliveries of the A350s are expected between 2017 and 2018.

Azul may eliminate eight planes in addition to the 20 it's fleet cut since November, Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said in an interview to Bloomberg News.

The Brazilian carrier is set to receive two Airbus A320neo jetliners this year, two A350 planes next year and another A350 in 2018. The two A350s would be part of a trio A350 scheduled for delivery in 2018.

The move is part of a new series of capacity cuts Azul is planning amid a two-year recession in Brazil's aviation industry.

In addition, Azul will transfer as many as 1,700 pilots to HNA Group as part of its saving program.

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