Varig Brazilian Airlines

Varig Brazilian Airlines, also known as VARIG, was once the largest airline of Brazil. The airline declared bankruptcy in 2006. The successor to Varig is Gol Transportes Aéreos, which is technically the new Varig.

VARIG

IATA RG ICAO VRG Callsign VARIG
Founded	1927
Ceased operations	July 2006
Hubs	Rio de Janeiro
Headquarters	Porto Alegre

A Varig Boeing 757 at Brasília.

History

Varig began on May 7, 1927. It was founded by German emigrants in Brazil. Varig began non-stop flights between New York City and Rio de Janeiro in 1955. The airline took over many international destinations in the 1960s from bankrupt Panair do Brasil, such as Frankfurt, Lisbon and Paris. Varig eventually became the largest airline in all of South America, after it bought many other smaller Brazilian airlines. In 1997, Varig became the first airline to join Star Alliance. In 2001, TAM Airlines became the largest airline in Brazil. Then, Varig stopped flying, and it became known as another airline in 2007.

Varig Brazilian Airlines Media

• de Havilland Dragon Rapide PP-VAN exhibited at the MUSAL

• Varig Douglas DC-3 Volpati-1.jpg

  A Douglas DC-3 displayed in Rio de Janeiro

• Fairchild-Hil FH.227B PP-BUH Congonhas 06.05.72 edited-2.jpg

  A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B at Congonhas Airport São Paulo in 1972

• Boeing 727-41 PP-VLG VARIG CGH 060572 edited-2.jpg

  Boeing 727-41 of VARIG at São Paulo Congonhas airport in 1972

• Varig Boeing 707-320C PP-VJX GIG Nov 1984.png

  Boeing 707-345C at Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport in 1984

• Lockheed L-188 Electra at Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont Airport in 1991

• A Boeing 767-200ER departing Lisbon Portela Airport in 1995

• Varig Boeing 767-300ER PP-VPW FRA 2004-1-10.png

  A Boeing 767-300ER on short finals to Frankfurt Airport in 2004

• Varig Logo.svg

  Varig's final logo before it split up in 2006

• Varig MD-11 PP-VPK CDG 2004-5-28.png

  A MD-11 on short final to Charles de Gaulle Airport in 2004

• Avião abandonado by Diego Baravelli.jpg

  B727-41F PP-VLG abandoned at Rio de Janeiro Airport