Other North & South America Frequent Flyer Programs - TAM Announces Purchase of Four Boeing 777-300ERs and Four Purchase Rights

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061031/nytu215.html?.v=6

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TAM S.A. (BOVESPA: TAMM4) (NYSE: TAM - News), Brazil's largest airline company, today announced the firm order of four new Boeing 777-300ERs plus four purchase rights, making it the first Latin American airline to incorporate these aircraft as part of their long-range fleet plan.

Currently, the fuel efficient B777-300ER is world's largest long range twin-engines jetliner, carrying approximately 370* passengers in TAM's three class configuration...

*???

It looks like they are trying to fill the gap left by Varig's departure. They are probably going to announce new international routes in the near future. My educated guess: GRU - NRT; GRU - PEK; GRU - FRA; GRU - MXP; GRU - ZRH; GRU - LIS; GRU - LAD (long shot, but certainly not impossible). On the European routes, expect one or more stops in the Northeast cities (SSA, REC, or FOR) during the Summer months.

It looks like they are trying to fill the gap left by Varig's departure. They are probably going to announce new international routes in the near future. My educated guess: GRU - NRT; GRU - PEK; GRU - FRA; GRU - MXP; GRU - ZRH; GRU - LIS; GRU - LAD (long shot, but certainly not impossible). On the European routes, expect one or more stops in the Northeast cities (SSA, REC, or FOR) during the Summer months.

Asia needs more connections to South America! It would be great if TAM were to begin flights to China. Air China just announced starting flights between PEK and GRU via MAD on their Boeing 767-200 on 10 December; read the press releases (in 中文 (http://www.airchina.com.cn/maintenance/NewsDetail.jsp?subtype=notes&id=20061023013614&location=gb) or English (http://www.airchina.com.cn/maintenance/NewsDetail.jsp?subtype=notes&id=20061026100212&location=en)) for more details.

I thought I remember seeing that Aerolineas Argentinas was planning on starting a flight from EZE to PEK via Madrid. Their website doesn't show the flight; maybe the plans were cancelled.

I am very surprised that LAN hasn't jumped on a SCL-PVG or SCL-HKG flight (for CX connections). Chileans are doing more and more trade with China/Asia every day.

I thought I remember seeing that Aerolineas Argentinas was planning on starting a flight from EZE to PEK via Madrid. Their website doesn't show the flight; maybe the plans were cancelled.

I am very surprised that LAN hasn't jumped on a SCL-PVG or SCL-HKG flight (for CX connections). Chileans are doing more and more trade with China/Asia every day.

It probably isn't in their current fleet plans - they don't have many A340s, and they are -300s.

For whatever it is worth, MH flies between KUL and EZE via Jo'burg, twice weekly, which works decently for SE Asia and Chinese connections.

Some clues about the usage of these planes was given in TAMs investor relations releases, which indicated that the importance of the MD-11s which will be joining the fleet in the next 6 months until the delivery and their replacement with the 777s, is that the Brazilian government have given TAM 6 months to pick up the unused Varig route before reassigning them again. This rules out new routes not previously served by Varig, so I wouldn't expect a China flight, or FRA which is one of the few routes Varig is actually utilizing.

According to management, the planes will allow TAM to continue double daily to JFK (taking over Varig's daytime flight to GRU) and LHR, and add a third daily flight to CDG (from GIG). I believe that there are additional unused route authorities from LAX, MIA and MXP, which the new planes will allow them to capture.

Its nice to see them route the third CDG flight to GIG instead of another flight to GRU. I know I am hoping for them to follow the same strategy with JFK, adding a third flight via GIG -- instead of GRU -- as the capacity certainly seems to be very badly needed, and would cut the total travel time by around 25%.

This is cool. I flew TAM last week on three local brazil flights, EZE-GIG, GRU-EZE and Rio City Airport to Sao Paulo City airport. Great service and flights

Starting January 12, Tam will offer a third daily flight to Paris. The new flight will operate at night and fly from Galeão Airport (Rio de Janeiro) directly to the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

This third flight to Paris was obtained by TAM pursuant to the increase in flights in the bilateral agreement authorized in October by the Brazilian and French governments.

Currently, TAM offers two daily flights to Paris from the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. Once a week, one flight makes a stop in Recife. In Europe, the company also offers a daily flight from Guarulhos to London (Heathrow).

Other international destinations operated by TAM will have flights extended in the months to come. On December 15, the company will start offering a second daily flight to New York, the fifth daily flight operated by TAM to the United States.

There are three daily flights to Miami. In January 2007, TAM will start a second daily flight to Santiago (Chile) as well.

TAM's operations in South America currently include non-stop flights to Santiago (7 weekly) and Buenos Aires (49 weekly). Five other destinations are reached through TAM Mercosur: Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay), and Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba (Bolivia). The company also offers a daily flight to Lima (Peru) operated in code-share with TACA.

Source: www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7511/53/

I wish they would fly to Toronto!

I wish they would fly to Toronto!

Yes! That would be great!^

Its also long past time that TAM be recognized as Brazil's premier airline by this site. It makes little sense that Varig still has its own forum, and that TAM is relegated to "Other". Varig is now a small -- primarily local -- carrier. TAM is a world class international carrier, and now dwarfs Varig in importance by any and all criteria.

Its also long past time that TAM be recognized as Brazil's premier airline by this site. It makes little sense that Varig still has its own forum, and that TAM is relegated to "Other". Varig is now a small -- primarily local -- carrier. TAM is a world class international carrier, and now dwarfs Varig in importance by any and all criteria.

Hear hear! TAM for OneWorld membership -- with full AA mileage EQM earnt on discount economy tickets, here we come! (Here's hoping...)