History

On May 7, 1927, VARIG was founded in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State. Its founder, Otto Ernst Meyer, at the time on a business travel to Germany, chooses Condor Syndikat’s hydroplane as the first company’s aircraft, which was then called "Atlântico".


The action of Ruben Martin Berta, the first employee, was crucial for the company. He was named Varig’s President in l94l. As President he structured the company in order to face a new expansion stage in the post-war period and also had a victory more important than any technological progress - the loyalty and admiration of his employees.

When the II World War ended, and the company was growing fast, he decided to adopt new policies for employee appraisal and relationship. He choose the General Shareholders Meeting, held on October 29, 1945 to present a proposal which surprised everybody - he suggested to shareholders the transfer of half of company’s shares to an employee Foundation he had designed, based on his own personal views, the company’s bylaws, in Jean-Jacques Rousseau ideas and the principles of Pope Lion XIII. Today the Foundation is called FUNDAÇÃO RUBEN BERTA.


More than half a century later, Varig is still achieving its historic goal, based on a statement by its creator, Otto Ernst Meyer:


"VARIG WAS CREATED TO SERVE".


At this exact moment when we have the pleasure of your visit to our site, you can feel at ease because you are accessing "Our VARIG".