note

The flag carrier of Brasil. Operations commenced in June 1927 using Dornier Wal flying boat. International services commenced in August 1942. After World War II, VARIG received surplus Douglas DC-3s and later Convair CV-240s. In August 1955 New York was added to its network using Lockheed Super Constellations. The first jet, French Sud Caravelle, joined the fleet in December 1959 followed by Boeing 707 six months later. VARIG took over REAL in August 1961 and became the largest South American airline. In February 1965 Panair do Brasil was arbitrarily closed by the government and its long haul lines were handed over to VARIG. In November 1967 first turboprop aircraft, Hawker Siddeley 748, was delivered. These began to replace aging DC-3s and CV-240s on the domestic network. In May 1971 first Douglas DC-10 joined the fleet. At this time VARIG's network included long-haul destinations in Europe, North America, Tokyo, and Johannesburg. In June 1975 another domestic airline was acquired - Cruzeiro do Sul, but the brand was preserved. In 1981 first Airbus A300 joined the fleet. The airline went into financial difficulties and went into bankruptcy in summer 2006. Its brands VARIG and Rio-Sul were purchased by Volo do Brasil which at the time owned VARIG's former subsidiary VARIG Logística. VARIG's fleet was reduced to just 10 airplanes and its network was cut down to 7 domestic destinations and Miami, New York, Frankfurt, and Buenos Aires. Its name reverted to original Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense S.A. but operated as Nordeste Linhas Aereas. More than half of its employees were laid off. In March 2007, Brazilian low-cost behemoth GOL purchased the new VARIG from Volo do Brasil airline for circa $300 million which would enable GOL to start international operations. GOL will keep the VARIG brand and integrate its domestic service with the new VARIG's international operations.

founded - demised (age)

May 7 1927 - July 20 2006  (79)

headquarters

Av A. Sylvio de Noronha 365, Rio de Janeiro

web

www.varig.com.br

base airports

SBGL Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Rio de Janeiro
SBKP Viracopos International Campinas - Sao Paulo

related operators

VARIG Logistica	subsidiary
Flex Linhas Aereas	successor
REAL	merged 1961
Panair do Brasil	merged 1965
Cruzeiro do Sul	merged 1975
Rio-Sul
PLUNA	49% stake
VARIG	successor
NOAR Linhas Aereas