The year 1927. Commercial aviation has begun its first flights throughout the world. In Brazil, it navigates between the dream and the bold venture. Until, in a small room of the Commercial Association of Porto Alegre, at a meeting of idealists – more audacious than dreamers – having before them Otto Ernst Meyer, VARIG’s creator, was launched the major and most important chapter in the history of Brazilian air transportation.

img_aviao.gifOn this day, May 7, 1927, was born S.A. Empresa de Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense, VARIG, whose birth certificate – the company’s statutes, approved by the first share-holders – was nothing more than a document with some proposals and many signatures, symbols of support for the building of an ideal that history has shown to be noble and that has been a source of pride for Brazil and Brazilians. From the first Aircraft – the Atlantic, 9 passengers, 180 km/h – to today’s Boeing 777 (the most modern commercial aircraft in the world), with a capacity to carry 287 passengers and a speed of almost 1000 km/h, it has been a true story of men and machines, where the name Ruben Berta – the company’s first employee and its president from 1941 to 1966, the year of his death – stands out not only as a symbol, but as an example of the outreach and the dedication of the company.

VARIG began with a mere 270-kilometer route – Porto Alegre – Pelotas –Rio Grande, which, in its first year of existence, logged 25 flights, carried 652 passengers, in 210 hours of flight. Actually, together with Rio Sul and Nordeste, it operates the largest and most complete network of routes in Brazil, with service to 110 cities. Outisde Brazil, it has direct service to 27 destinations in 18 countries on four continents. And since joining the Star Alliance, the largest alliance of airines in the world, it has been able to offer even more convenience to the passenger, who can now comfortably and rapidly reach anywhere on the terrestrial globe.

Today, VARIG, the pioneer – the first commercial airline of Brazil – can proudly cite numbers that secure its position as the largest airline company in the country and in Latin America and one of the leaders of the world market: in over 75 years of existence, it has carried more than 210 million passengers, logged more than 7 million hours of flight, completed more than two and a half million flights; and its aircraft have flown roughly 115 thousand times around the world.

The Ruben Berta Foundation has as its primary objective the well-being of the employees of a conglomorate of companies created with one major trunk: VARIG.

The creation of FRB-Par holding, meant to permanently care for the Group’s investments among other interests, provided greater transparency for disclosure of each of the companies, focus on each business activity, autonomy in decision making, maximum return to share holders and the creation of investment opportunities.

The Group FRB-Par, in turn, controls three other holdings:

VARIG S/A (Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense) which controls VARIGLOG, PLUNA and VEM;
VARIG Participacoes em Transportes Aereos S.A. (VPTA) which controls
VARIG Participacoes em Servicos Complementares S.A. (VPSC) which controls SATA, REDE TROPICAL HOTELS E RESORTS BRASIL, AMADEUS BRASIL and VARIG TRAVEL.
There are a total of 14 companies under the control of GRUPO FRB-PAR.

VARIG is the largest airline in Latin America and, united with Rio Sul and Nordeste, mobilizes 115 planes to offer the biggest and most diversifies airline network in the country. With this operating alliance, which consolidated the group’s leadership in the market, the passenger can now count on three times the comfort and convenience, from the reservation to boarding, he fitteen companies offer connections between 70 Brazilian cities.

The national network of airlines is interconnected to VARIG’s international services which today directly reach 24 cities in various countries and, since 1997 thanks to the connection to the network of Star Alliance partners – the alliance of strategic cooperation that unites, VARIG and fitteen other highly regarded companies on the planet: Air Canada, Air New Zeeland, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Midland BMI, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapure Airlines, Spanair, Thai International, Tap, United Airlines and U.S Airways, beyond the regional patners Blue, Croatia Airlines and Adria Airlines, guarantees its Brazilian clients access to more than 800 destinations throughout the world. The aircraft of the three companies realize nearly five thousand take-offs per week, which means one take-off every two minutes. The operational integration of VARIG, Rio Sul and Nordeste has the goal of providing easier access to any destination.The unification of reservations and ticket office and airport services cuts down on wasted time and allows passengers to better plan their trips. always being able to avail themselves of the most convenient schedules, the most modern and comfortable planes, and on-board service under the auspicies of some of the most renowned international chefs. On connections with highest demand, between the main airports of cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Vitoria, the Air Shuttle concept is being widely utilized, offering flights in intervals as short as 15 minutes.

Quality, safety and profit are the strategic pillars adopted by the company to function in the competitive global commercial aviation market. Since its founding, in 1927, VARIG’s continuous challenge has been to exceed the expectations of the most demanding passengers.

Within this context was born VARIG’s service style, which has won over customers of the most diverese nationalities by being synchronized with the best the world has to offer. The recipe is to add to the human warmth of the Brazilian people, technology, and the highest international standards of quality.

Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance has been voted Best Airline Alliance by Skytrax in 2003 and 2005. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, TAP Portugal, THAI, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. South African Airways and SWISS will be integrated during the first half 2006. Overall, the member carriers offer more than 15,000 daily flights to 790 destinations in 138 countries.

The Smiles Program is the special way that VARIG and Pluna have found to thank people like you for choosing us; Smiles is the largest mileage program in Latin America, with more thatn 4,800,000 participants and more than 80 partners.

Program enrollment is free and you can accumulate miles by flying on VARIG, Pluna, on Star Alliance carriers, or on partner-companies South African Airways and Alitalia. Some flights, however, might have restrictions on mileage accrual, due to a company’s internal policies. To confirm that a flight you are using allows mileage credit, please see Smiles Service Center.

Another way to accumulate miles is to use the products and services of Smiles Program partners, among them credit cards, hotels, car rental companies, restaurants, and many others.

Accrued miles can be exchanged for free flights to more than 800 destinations in 120 countries, or even for upgrades to the next higher class from the ticketed class on VARIG and Pluna flights. And when you fly you will enjoy even more privileges and benefits, by way of the Silver, Gold or Diamond card. Among these: preferred check-in, VIP lounge access, class upgrades, etc. Look here for Smiles Program Rules.

The importance of investment in the area of Human Resources is directly related to the commitment to quality service.

In awareness of this, VARIG is a company that invests in its professionals in order to attain the highest customer satisfaction.

HUMAN RESOURCES MISSION:

To harmonize relations between the Comany and its employees, in order for them to become partners in the business, motivated, enabled and committed to results, supported by leader-managers, so that VARIG will be an excellent place to work.

PROFILE OF THE VARIG EMPLOYEE:

Communication

Ability to relay information spontaneously and clearly, as well as the ability to understand customer needs and expectations, leaving him/her with a positive impression through attitude, appearance and courtesy (verbal and non-verbal communication).

Courtesy and Sensitivity

Ability to win over the customer through an agreeable and hospitable attitude, listening to him/her and being able to empathize; understanding customer needs and values; striving for efficient and personal service.

Team Spirit

Ability to work as a team, maintaining a professional, involved and collaborative attitude, incorporating the contributions of all individuals for better goal attainment.

Initiative and Enthusiasm

Ability to act and make spontaneous decisions that are appropriate and positive in diverse circumstances, with innovative solutions compatible with the Company’s philosophy of good customer service.

Interpersonal Relationships

Takes interest and pleasure in activities involving personal contact with a strong bent toward public relations, always displaying a friendly, pro-active, receptive and solicitous attitude.

The Company

Fleet

VARIG Mania

Route Map

Smiles

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