VARIG
(Brazil)

In 1970, VARIG began with the evaluation for a new widebody aircraft and as the Lockheed L-1011 did not offer the required range, VARIG became the first South American airline to choose the Mc Donnell - Douglas DC-10 in November 1972, placing an order for two aircraft with an option of further two. VARIG planned to standardize the long-range fleet to this type and until the first 747s came to supplement the DC-10, the DC-10 was VARIGs flagship. VARIG was more than satisfied with its DC-10 fleet and ordered eight more DC-10s, bringing the total fleet with two ex Singapore Airlines aircraft and a lot of leases to aircraft to 15 DC-10s. Two of these aircraft were converted to DC-10-30CF and are used mainly as freighters now. In the middle of the 1990s, the replacement of the DC-10 began with the introduction of the MD-11 and finally a crisis in VARIGs own finances brought the DC-10 era to an end. All full-pax aircraft were withdrawn from use, sold or leased out. Now, long-range services are operated by MD-11 and 767-300ERs, while the 737 and 767-200 fly the shorter routes.
The two remaining DC-10 are used as freighters and were transferred together with a newly acquired ex-British Airways aircraft in early 2001 to a new division called "VarigLOG" which also operates the 727 freighter fleet.

Photo:
Right: VARIG DC-10 - BY DOUG BULL
Left: VarigLOG DC-10 in Los Angeles on February 18th 2001 - BY CHRIS CODUTO

Following aircraft were operated by or for VARIG:

-stored-
RegistrationAircraftFleetnr./NameOperated from - toWhere is it now?
PP-VMA46944/ 13329.05.1974 - 02.1999-stored-
PP-VMB46945/ 15618.06.1974 - 14.12.1998-stored-
PP-VMD46916/ 20212.06.1975 - 02.1998SCRAPPED
PP-VMO46540/ 26805.04.1979 - 02.04.1980Centurion Air Cargo
PP-VMP46541/ 28121.07.1979 - 14.06.1980-stored-
PP-VMQ46941/ 17607.11.1974 - 01.05.1999SCRAPPED
PP-VMR47817/ 30001.12.1979 - 24.11.1980Bangladesh Biman
PP-VMS47818/ 30525.01.1980 - 13.01.1992DAS Air Cargo
PP-VMT47841/ 32931.08.1980 - 2005 and
2005/2006 - now
ACTIVE
PP-VMU47842/ 33206.09.1980 - 12.2002 and
???? - now
ACTIVE
PP-VMV47843/ 33509.10.1980 - 06.1999Cargo Italia
PP-VMW47844/ 33610.11.1980 - 01.07.1994 and
???? - 12.1997
-stored-
PP-VMX47845/ 35609.06.1981 - 1993,
27.01.1994 - 06.04.1994 and
30.06.1994 - 02.09.1999
-stored-
PP-VMY48282/ 35530.04.1980 - 06.04.1994 and
30.06.1994 - 16.06.1999
PP-VMZ46999/ 28905.04.1979 - 02.04.1980Arrow Air
PP-VQY46949/ 1792001 - nowACTIVE
PR-LGO46921/ 2142007 - nowACTIVE
Previous airline: UTA - Union de Transport Aériens Next airline: VASP

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