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Sociedade Anônima Empresa de Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense – VARIG was founded in May 1927 by a German immigrant who was also an ex-WW1 pilot. The influence of WW2 and Brazils eventual allied status put an end to any German involvement but the airline's development progressed well postwar with the addition of DC-3s and C-46s.
Intra-brasilian competition was fierce during the 1950s but through various acquisitions Varig strengthened its position. In 1949 it gained permission to begin international services to the USA though services did not begin until 2 August 1955 after the delivery of 3 L-1049G Super Constellations. Two years earlier international services to Buenos Aires had begun with C-46s.
By 1956 Varig was Brazil's second largest airline serving 55 cities in Brazil and 4 abroad. The Super Connies (and CV-240s) introduced a new livery which would remain effectively unchanged until 1996.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on Flickr
Three more L-1049Gs arrived in 1957, all airframes destined originally for Qantas and were registered VDD-F. PP-VDE was originally going to be VH-EAT. The Connie fleet was bolstered in 1961 with the takeover of REAL adding four more L-1049Hs. PP-VDE was withdrawn at Porte-Alegro in October 1963 and broken up in June 1967.
Brasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on Flickr
Brasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on Flickr
Brasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on Flickr
Brasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on Flickr
Real (Redes Estaduais Aéreas Limitadas) was formed by two ex-TACA pilots in 1945 starting operations with 3 DC-3s. Several smaller airlines were purchased in the and in 1951 international routes began. In 1954 Aerovias Brasil was purchased and in 1956 TAN creating a consortium covering all of Brasil. REAL was the dominant airline on the Rio, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte triangle and to compete further with Varig three Super Connies arrived in 1958 to start Rio-New York services. Los Angeles was also begun and in 1960 extended to Honolulu and Tokyo with the entire return flight taking about a week. Expansion weakened the consortium and Varig was able to purchase it in 1961. YSC joined Varig and served until 1969. Sold to the Carolina Aircraft Corp as N565E she was broken up in 1972.
The REAL takeover also boosted VARIG's International services adding various Latin American cities, Miami, the US West Coast and an impressive Japanese service. By that time jets were in use with 707-400s operating to New York non-stop since July 1960. These in fact replaced Sud-Aviation Caravelles which had been operating the route via Belem, Trinidad and Nassau since July 1959! What a route that must have been in a Caravelle.
VARIG inherited REAL's order for 3 CV-990s also and somewhat reluctantly took them into service from 1963. European services began very suddenly in February 1965 when Panair do Brasil was shutdown by the government. Varig inherited their pair of DC-8-30s meaning it operated all three competing US products - B707, CV-990 and DC-8! It was the only airline in the world to do so.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on Flickr
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on Flickr
None of those types were however well suited to the post-1973 Oil Crisis marketplace or the widebody revolution leading to Varig choosing the Dc-10 as its future widebody. The first arrived on July 1st 1974 enabling non-stop Paris services for the first time. Fifteen DC-10s would eventually serve with the airline with PP-VMX being the penultimate arrival as late as 1981. The DC-10s served into the early 90s supplemented then replaced by 747s, 767s and MD11s. VMX was leased to LAPSA for 4 months in late 1993 and leased to World and Garuda before final sale to Northwest in 1999 with whom she became N242NW. She was scheduled to join ATA in 2007 but after their collapse instead went to World as N138WA and was finally withdrawn in November 2010.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on Flickr
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on Flickr
The Oil Crisis also enabled Varig to profit at its competitor's expense as it tookover Cruzeiro do Sul in 1975, though it kept its identity until 1993. In many ways the end of 1970s were the high point for Varig. Despite modernising its fleet and expanding its route map in the 80s increasing financial problems caused by mismanagement, competition and economic turmoil began to afflict the airline.
Incidentally I discovered this great website dedicated to VARIG:
Intra-brasilian competition was fierce during the 1950s but through various acquisitions Varig strengthened its position. In 1949 it gained permission to begin international services to the USA though services did not begin until 2 August 1955 after the delivery of 3 L-1049G Super Constellations. Two years earlier international services to Buenos Aires had begun with C-46s.
By 1956 Varig was Brazil's second largest airline serving 55 cities in Brazil and 4 abroad. The Super Connies (and CV-240s) introduced a new livery which would remain effectively unchanged until 1996.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on FlickrThree more L-1049Gs arrived in 1957, all airframes destined originally for Qantas and were registered VDD-F. PP-VDE was originally going to be VH-EAT. The Connie fleet was bolstered in 1961 with the takeover of REAL adding four more L-1049Hs. PP-VDE was withdrawn at Porte-Alegro in October 1963 and broken up in June 1967.
Brasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on FlickrBrasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on FlickrBrasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on FlickrBrasilian L-1049 Super Constellations by rstretton, on FlickrReal (Redes Estaduais Aéreas Limitadas) was formed by two ex-TACA pilots in 1945 starting operations with 3 DC-3s. Several smaller airlines were purchased in the and in 1951 international routes began. In 1954 Aerovias Brasil was purchased and in 1956 TAN creating a consortium covering all of Brasil. REAL was the dominant airline on the Rio, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte triangle and to compete further with Varig three Super Connies arrived in 1958 to start Rio-New York services. Los Angeles was also begun and in 1960 extended to Honolulu and Tokyo with the entire return flight taking about a week. Expansion weakened the consortium and Varig was able to purchase it in 1961. YSC joined Varig and served until 1969. Sold to the Carolina Aircraft Corp as N565E she was broken up in 1972.
The REAL takeover also boosted VARIG's International services adding various Latin American cities, Miami, the US West Coast and an impressive Japanese service. By that time jets were in use with 707-400s operating to New York non-stop since July 1960. These in fact replaced Sud-Aviation Caravelles which had been operating the route via Belem, Trinidad and Nassau since July 1959! What a route that must have been in a Caravelle.
VARIG inherited REAL's order for 3 CV-990s also and somewhat reluctantly took them into service from 1963. European services began very suddenly in February 1965 when Panair do Brasil was shutdown by the government. Varig inherited their pair of DC-8-30s meaning it operated all three competing US products - B707, CV-990 and DC-8! It was the only airline in the world to do so.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on FlickrVARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on FlickrNone of those types were however well suited to the post-1973 Oil Crisis marketplace or the widebody revolution leading to Varig choosing the Dc-10 as its future widebody. The first arrived on July 1st 1974 enabling non-stop Paris services for the first time. Fifteen DC-10s would eventually serve with the airline with PP-VMX being the penultimate arrival as late as 1981. The DC-10s served into the early 90s supplemented then replaced by 747s, 767s and MD11s. VMX was leased to LAPSA for 4 months in late 1993 and leased to World and Garuda before final sale to Northwest in 1999 with whom she became N242NW. She was scheduled to join ATA in 2007 but after their collapse instead went to World as N138WA and was finally withdrawn in November 2010.
VARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on FlickrVARIG Brasil L-1049 & DC-10 Airliners by rstretton, on FlickrThe Oil Crisis also enabled Varig to profit at its competitor's expense as it tookover Cruzeiro do Sul in 1975, though it kept its identity until 1993. In many ways the end of 1970s were the high point for Varig. Despite modernising its fleet and expanding its route map in the 80s increasing financial problems caused by mismanagement, competition and economic turmoil began to afflict the airline.
Incidentally I discovered this great website dedicated to VARIG:
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