The TAM group is to launch Brazil's fourth international carrier and American Airlines has wasted no time extending its relationship with the multi-airline operator.
The ambitious TAM group has established Transportes Aereos Meridionais as its intercontinental carrier, which could launch services between Sao Paulo and Miami as early as this November. This is the third scheduled carrier to appear under the TAM group umbrella. The others are the wholly owned Brazilian domestic operator, aptly named TAM, and the former Paraguayan flag carrier Lapsa, now called Transportes Aereos del Mercosur, which operates regional services out of Asunción. All carriers share the same acronym and livery.
The formation of the intercontinental airline follows the designation of a fourth carrier from each country in last year's Brazil-US bilateral. TAM was planning to start a daily B767 service from Sao Paulo to Miami early next year, but after the US approved Continental Airlines as the fourth US carrier in March, Brazil's civil aviation department has pushed the carrier to bring forward the launch.
TAM is planning to extend the Miami service to Asunción and bring the former Lapsa on to the route; it currently funnels Miami traffic over Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires.
American's decision to enter a codeshare alliance with TAM is a natural extension of its codeshare agreement with the former Lapsa. Pending government approval TAM will put its codes on American's flights from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Miami, New York/ JFK and Dallas-Fort Worth, while American will reciprocate on TAM's domestic flights and on the Miami service.
Source: Airline Business
