After the USA, Japan and Korea, Alitalia focuses on Brazil

The Presidents of Alitalia Fausto Cereti and Varig Ozires Silva today have announced that the they have reached a code-share agreement .
The two airlines in total will offer 34 flights a week between Italy and Brazil. Alitalia will operate 6 flight a week from Milan Malpensa to Sao Paulo with a Boeing 767 plus three weekly flights from Rome to Rio de Janeiro with an MD 11 aircraft. Varig will fly 5 frequencies a week from Milan Malpensa to Sao Paulo and three weekly flights from Rome to Rio de Janeiro with a Boeing 767 aircraft.
According to the code-share agreement, Alitalia and Varig will operate a “free flow” capacity access on all flights between Italy and Brazil and all flights will have both AZ and RG flight code number. The two airlines also are co-ordinating handling and operation services, including VIP lounges in Italy and Brazil. This is the first stage of the agreement. The two airlines are planning to enter into a full Joint Venture on the Italy Brazil routes.

Customers will enjoy a seamless service on all code shared routes with very convenient connections for both Italian and Brazilian markets. Frequent flyers will be able to accrue miles on all code-shared routes. South America continues to recover from its economic crisis from the late 90`s. Together with Argentina, Brazil is the most important market for Alitalia in South America. During 1999 more than 150000 passengers travel with Alitalia between Italy and Brazil.

The agreement with Varig will enable Alitalia to offer its customers an expanded Intercontinental network. Beside the Brazilian carrier Alitalia has recently signed a code-share agreement with JAL and Korean Air. As well as renewing its co-operation with US-based Northwest.

Varig with 10 million passengers carried in 1999 and a fleet of 89 aircraft is one of the largest South American airlines and operates 62 destinations world-wide including 36 domestic Brazilian cities.

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