Brazil’s VARIG to Leave Star Alliance

Brazilian airline VARIG will no longer be a member of Star Alliance as of January 31. The decision was prompted by the current restructuring of the airline in which “old” VARIG continued to be a Star Alliance member, operating a reduced flight schedule on behalf of a new company, VRG.

With “new” VARIG now having been granted an official air operator’s certificate by the Brazilian authorities, “old” VARIG will in future no longer fulfill the pre-requisites for Star Alliance membership.

Star Alliance and its member carriers will ensure that the impact of this decision on international travelers will be kept to a minimum.

Star Alliance member carriers Air Canada, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal and United together provide more than 270 weekly flights to Africa, Europe and North America from six destinations in Brazil. In parallel the alliance is exploring various options to secure a wider presence in the region.