When VARIG start its flights to Europe, in 1965, was necessary to increase its international fleet and the airline chose Boeing 707-320 as main international aircraft. The first two B707-341C (PP-VJR and PP-VJS) arrived in Brazil on December 28, 1966, while the third (PP-VJT) arrived on March 22, 1967. These three aircraft were directly ordered from Boeing and were Combi type (recognized by letter "C" at the end), ie convertible to cargo or passengers. Thus, these aircraft had flexibility to carry more passengers or more cargo, depending on demand. In addition to great flexibilityk, Boeing 707-341C was equipped with new Pratt & Whitney engines with 18,000 pounds of thrust, aerodynamic improvements, higher take-off weight and fuel capacity, allowing operate flights between Rio de Janeiro and Europe nonstop. As B707-320C range was greater than B707-420, veterans B707-420 began to operate only on routes to Miami, Los Angeles and South America.

VARIG received more two Boeing 707-320, PP-VJK and PP-VJX in 1968, three (PP-VJH, PP-VJY and PP-VJZ) in 1969, two (PP-VLI and PP-VLJ) in 1971, three (PP-VLN, PP-VLO and PP-VLP) in 1973 and one (PP-VLU) in 1974. Boeing 707-300 replaced Convair 990A in 1971.

Boeing 707-320 was responsible for VARIG's expansion to Asia and Africa, when it inaugurate Rio de Janeiro - Lima - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Tokyo route, on June 25, 1968, and Rio de Janeiro - Johannesburg - Luanda route, on August 21, 1970. Flights to Japan initially were operated twice a week and in 1970 it was increased to three weekly flights.

During second half of 60s and first half of 70s, Boeing 707 were the main aircraft for international flights and flew to almost all VARIG’s destinations. Even with the introduction of wide-body aircraft in 70s, B707 continued to operate in VARIG’s international routes with lower demand and then only as freighters. Boeing 707 freighters operated until 1989, when were replaced by Boeing 727-100F.


Destination of VARIG’s B707-300:
- Sold to FAB: PP-VJH, PP-VJX, PP-VJY, PP-VLK
- Sold to Transbrasil: PP-VJS
- Sold: PP-VLI, PP-VLL, PP-VLM, PP-VLN, PP-VLO, PP-VLP
- Crashed: PP-VJK, PP-VJR, PP-VJT, PP-VJZ, PP-VLJ, PP-VLU