Varig

For the use of the brand Varig after 2007, see Gol Transportes Aéreos.

VARIG – Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense S.A.
IATA ICAO Call sign
RG VRG VARIG
Founded7 May 1927 (1927-05-07)
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Ceased operations20 July 2006 (2006-07-20)
HubsRio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport
Frequent-flyer programSmiles
AllianceStar Alliance (1997–2007)
Subsidiaries
HeadquartersRio de Janeiro
Key people
Key People List
  • Otto Ernst Meyer
  • Ruben Berta
  • Erik de Carvalho
  • Hélio Smidt
  • Fernando Pinto

VARIG (acronym for Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense, Rio Grandean Airways) was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990, it was Brazil's leading airline and virtually its only international one. In 2005, Varig went into judicial restructuring, and in 2006 it was split into two companies – Flex Linhas Aéreas, informally known as "old" Varig, heir to the original airline – now defunct, and "new" Varig, a new company, fully integrated into Gol Airlines.