UA flies GRU-GIG as well, but I'd rather fly JJ's most surely flight crew and attempt to speak only European Portuguese than fly UA . OF course, I don't think UA has local rights either. I'd personally rather connect in DFW than GRU. However, GIG is unlikely to see a LAX-GIG nonstop. GIG doesn't have 3-class F service on AA currently as is, despite 4x daily departures. GRU does. Hence, you can see where the premium demand is (and even the higher yield demand in the back, GIG has much more overall tourist interest than GRU). Maybe as the money keeps flowing into GIG (Petrobras/2016 Olympics/etc.), 3-class F makes a return and another route may be added, but LAX-GIG would be a very long, somewhat thin route. I personally don't see it happening. AA has the numbers, they know how many people are flying LAX-Brazil and which destinations they are booking. Obviously, they feel LAX-GRU makes enough sense to go for.