The Italian Aerospace Information Web
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TAM and Transbrasil Towards Merger
During the past year the Brazilian air transport system was hit by traffic and financial problems. Recently TAM (Transportes Aéreos Regionais) and Transbrasil, second and third ranking Brazilian carriers, announced a code-sharing agreement that could lead to a total merger.
TAM was established in Sao Paulo 1976 and expanded successfully to reach a leading position in the regional market. It operates a 60 aircraft strong fleet, formed by Fokker 50s and 100s. Airbus A 319/320s are coming now to strengthen and modernize TAM operational capabilities.
Transbrasil origin dates back to 1955. Its main base is also in Sao Paulo and operates a fleet formed by B.737s and B.767s. With the recent agreement, the two airlines offer a combined total of about 600 daily domestic services.
In the pictures: Airbus A 320-223 with test marks F-WWBG, before delivery to TAM (Airbus Industrie picture). The first Boeing B.767-2Q4 (PT-TAA) delivered to Transbrasil mid 1983; the aircraft is shown on the apron of Sao Paulo/Congonhas airport, late fall 1989.
(Aeromedia, June 2000)