Varig Brazilian Airlines is to expand services to Asia with flights to Beijing next year, making it the first South American airline to fly to China.
Twice-weekly MD-11 flights from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, flying via Frankfurt to China, will probably start in early 1997, the carrier's Hong Kong-based general manager, Reno Vitale, said.
The announcement, which followed the signing of an air services agreement between the Brazilian and Chinese governments two years ago, would further strengthen the airline's presence in Asia, Mr Vitale said.
'Although the details and schedules are still being finalised, the new service should be operational by the beginning of next year,' he said.
Varig flies five times a week to Japan and twice-weekly to Hong Kong and Bangkok, via Johannesburg.
'China is an important market for us,' Mr Vitale said. 'Since we launched our direct flights between Hong Kong and Brazil over three years ago, there has been a considerable demand for the service among travellers from China.