The Varig brand returned to the Uk this week, with the resumption of flights between London and the Brazilian cities of Rio and Sao Paulo.
Once Brazil’s flagship carrier, all of Varig’s international flights were postponed last summer following financial difficulties and subsequent restructuring under new owners Gol Transportes Aereos. But the airline (operating under the name VRG Linhas Aereas SA) has been steadily resuming flights to Europe, with Frankfurt, Rome, and Paris already commenced, and the latest London Heathrow route starting on October 30.
Flight RG8753 departs Heathrow daily (except Thursdays) at 2205, arriving into Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport at 0815 the next day, before connecting to Rio de Janeiro and arriving at 1000. The return leg RG8752 leaves Rio for London at 2030 (daily except Wednesdays), connecting in Sao Paulo and arriving into Heathrow at between 1400 and 1605 depending on the day of travel.
Varig’s competitors on the Sao Paulo-London route include BA and Brazil’s TAM Linhas Aereas, which both offer a daily service. The news follows Emirates’ first foray into the Brazilian market, with a daily service from Dubai (see online news October 19).
For more information visit varig.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
