TAM to start Heathrow-Rio services

     Brazilian airline TAM will commence services between Heathrow and Rio de Janiero later this summer, the airline has announced. The new route will add to the busy daily flight that already operates to Sao Paulo from Terminal 1.

     Flights will commence on Tuesday 10 August after the inaugural arrival from Rio touches down at 1605. The route will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 with 223 seats available three times a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The airline will also be offering their first and business class passengers a complimentary luxury chauffeur service within 65 miles of Heathrow airport.

     Paulo Castello Branco, Commercial & Planning VP for Tam said: ” We have seen a steady and solid increase in passenger demand between London and Rio de Janeiro on the existing Sao Paulo service. We therefore decided that the time was right to offer our clients the convenience and comfort of a new non-stop service between the two cities. A service that will strengthen our operation at Rio’s international Airport, Galeao, which is already TAM’s second most important international hub after Sao Paulo.

     At TAM we also recognise the importance of the growing links between these two very special cities that will host the next two summer Olympic and Paralympic games – London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.”