Continuing its pioneering initiative in jet age, in 1960 VARIG incorporates the fastest aircraft of all, the Boeing 707. On June 22, 1960 the first Boeing 707-441, registered as PP-VJA, arrived at Galeão airport, already bringing paying passengers from New York. VARIG changed on purpose sequence files, using the "J" for "jet". The number "41" at the end of the model number indicates that the aircraft was produced by VARIG.
The Boeing 707 Series 400 (PP-VJA, PP-VJB and PP-VJJ) were equipped with Rolls Royce Conway MK508 engines, more economical than Pratt & Whitney turbojet and also increasing B707’s range. This allowed to fly between Rio de Janeiro and New York nonstop for the first time in history. The flight lasted now about 9 hours only. To ensure nonstop flight, VARIG's B707-400 operated at the maximum levels, requiring all engines power and almost the entire length of Galeão International Airport runway.
After the arrival of the second unit, PP-VJB, VARIG offer three weekly nonstop flights between Rio and New York on July 20, 1960. At that time Caravelle also flew to New York twice a week with a stop in Bethlehem, Port of Spain and Nassau and Super Constellation twice a week with a stop in Port of Spain or in Bethlehem and Trujillo.
In the 60s Galeão’s runway has undergone an expansion, then B707 temporarily used Brasília airport to flight to New York.
In November 1961, Boeing 707-441 also started to operate in Rio de Janeiro - Los Angeles route, with stops in Lima, Bogota and Mexico City.
In the 70’s Boeing 707 began to be progressively replaced by wide-bodies. PP-VJB crashed near Lima in 1962 and PP-VJA and PP-VJJ were sold in 1979.