Just over 20 years ago, the Varig received its last aircraft from the factory, the modern and technological Boeing 777. Even in its last years and in the midst of difficulties, the flagship airline (at the time) was still ahead with its best product.
The arrival of the Boeing 777 -200ER version for Varig not only meant an unprecedented aircraft for Latin America, it once again raised the company's concept of its on-board products, especially on international flights.
To understand in depth the size of this change, let's go back in time to the 1990s. Varig was chaired by Fernando Pinto, the same who years later would be at TAP, he faced turbulent years even before assuming the presidency in 1996.
With the new visual identity, new brand and entry into the Star Alliance, Varig seemed to be facing the economic crisis with open arms. Despite the crisis, the air of hope came with the largest order ever placed by the airline.
In 1997, Varig announced an order for 4 Boeing 737-700 aircraft, 10 737-800, 6 767-300ER and 4 777-200ER. Additionally, the order valued at $2,7 billion still had options to buy 11 737-700s and 4 more 777-200ERs.
The arrival of the new large planes would be especially for the gap left by the 747s that were being retired in the late 90's.
Varig's Boeing 777
The great novelty of the skies, the Boeing 777 project took to the skies in the mid-90s, as a great revolution in aviation. Varig received its first copy of the completely new -200ER version, on November 3, 2001.
On board the aircraft had the best and most modern products, an individual entertainment system with movies, series, music, games and the entire map with information about the flight, something that is common nowadays.
But the big news was the internet on board, that's right, you didn't read it wrong. The airline from Rio Grande do Sul was the 4th company in the world to offer its engers an internet connection on board via satellite.
The arrival of the PP-VRA once again placed Varig among the best services, even in days of uncertainty as it became from 2001 onwards.
Despite this, and with all the technology on board, the Brazilian airline also raised the standard of the in-flight service, which had an exclusive menu for the in-flight service.
Varig also invested in its First Class, renovating and implementing a new standard. Investments of US$ 6 million meant that the comfort and quality on board the company's Boeing 777 was superior to that of the retired 747s and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 that the company used so much.
With 287 seats, the Boeing 777-200ER offered 6 seats in First Class, 49 more in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy, in all the aircraft carried 287 engers.
The PP-VRA, which had been delivered in early November, was named after the company's founder 'Otto Meyer'. The aircraft debuted in the company's fleet on November 13, 2001, on a special flight for guests and the press from Rio de Janeiro (GIG) to Porto Alegre.
On the return flight, the brand new Varig plane was already making its debut on international flights departing from Galeão, making a stopover in Guarulhos and heading to London-Heathrow and Copenhagen.
On November 19, 2001, the second copy of the Boeing 777 arrived for Varig, it received the registration number PP-VRB and the baptismal name of 'Rubem Berta', who was the first employee.
The second large twin engine debuted on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with stopovers in Guarulhos and Paris. The two 777s would receive Varig's 75th anniversary stickers some time later.
Everything seemed to 'fly' well for Varig again, until September 11th arrived, until then the biggest crisis ever faced by the airline industry worldwide. Now with Ozires Silva as president, the airline was forced to cancel factory orders for the 777 and other aircraft.
The airline needed planes to operate international flights, and also some flights on the traditional route from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus with a stopover in Brasília, so Ozires Silva brought two 777s of the non-ER version with a much cheaper lease.
It then arrived at the end of February and beginning of March, the PP-VRC and PP-VRD, both of which had been originally delivered to British Airways. Shortly afterwards, Varig was able to bring two more Boeing 777-200ER planes, these were stocked and relatively new.
The operator of these planes was United, which, due to the crisis of September 11, stocked the aircraft and leased them to Varig a while later. These 777s were relatively new, only three years old, and in much better condition than British leases.
Arriving together in Brazil to form the fleet, they received registrations PP-VRE and VRF on November 15, 2004.
Even with the crisis getting worse, Varig managed to bring two more aircraft of the type, both also came from United but were not the long-range ER version. Manufactured in 1995, they were a little more 'shabby' compared to the others as they were used on domestic flights in the USA, but still better than the two that came from the British company.
They arrived in Brazil between February and April 2005, and received registrations PP-VRI and VRJ. Varig even ordered an aircraft with registration number PP-VRH, but it was canceled and registration number PP-VRG, which was symbolic as it represented the company, was never used.
A curiosity in relation to all the 777s ordered from United is in relation to the engines, which, unlike the other planes, had Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines, the others were General Electric (GE).
The final chapters of a short story
Varig was increasingly sunk in the crisis, and month after month it got worse, so much so that several aircraft were without leasing payments, including some Boeing 777 aircraft.
Gradually, the long-haul fleet was stored at VEM – Varig Engenharia e Importação at Galeão Airport, more than half of the Boeing 777 fleet was stocked in mid-2006.
In June, only two aircraft of the type were operating and their days were numbered. The PP-VRI made its last flight on the Manaus-Brasília-Rio de Janeiro section and was stored.
On June 20, only the PP-VRA was in operation, and due to non-payment of the lease, the owner of the Boeing 777 filed a lawsuit and managed to 'arrest' the aircraft after the return from the Munich-Guarulhos-Rio de Janeiro flight .
Everyone knows the end of the tragic story, the company faced a long judicial recovery, was divided into 'Nova Varig' and sold to GOL and Flex Linhas Aéreas emerged as a possible continuity that was not successful.
Where are the Boeing 777s operated by Varig?
O PP-VRA, the pioneer, the first Boeing 777 delivered to a Latin American airline, remained with Varig until its last days of life. It was ed on to Aeroméxico some time later, including flights to Brazil. It was decommissioned and dismantled in February 2018.
O PP-VRB, another of the new 777s received by the company, followed in the footsteps of its older 'brother' and was ed on to Aeroméxico. It flew for the Mexican company until 2017, and then ed on to Austrian Airlines. It is currently stocked and with the company's 60-year painting.
O PP-VRC, flew for Varig from 2004 to 2006, was the first non-ER 777-200 received by the company. It was taken over by Boeing, where it did not fly until 2012 when it was transformed into a presidential plane for Gabon. The aircraft has been in storage since 2016.
O PP-VRD, flew for the Brazilian company from 2004 to 2006 and soon after was taken over by Boeing. As it is a short-range plane, there were no interested parties and the plane was dismantled in 2018.
O PP-VRE, was a Boeing 777-200ER that operated by the company from the end of 2004 until the last days of operation. In early 2007, it was taken over by the US Bank and transferred to Transaero Russia in 2008. It operated by the company until mid-2017 and was returned to be dismantled.
O PP-VRF, originally received by United, went to Varig at the end of 2004 and followed the same steps as the PP-VRE, being taken over at the beginning of 2007 by the US Bank and transferred to Transaero in 2008. The aircraft flew until 2015 for the company and was dismantled in 2019.
O PP-VRI, also received by United, flew by Varig for just under two years and returned at the end of 2006. As it is a non-ER plane, this Boeing 777 only flew again in 2011 by Transaero, which retired the aircraft in 2017. The plane also it was dismantled.
O PP-VRJ, the last Boeing 777 received by Varig, and also in a short range version, flew for less than two years by the Brazilian company and was returned at the end of 2006. It followed in the footsteps of its 'brother', and went to Transaero in 2008, until be dismantled in 2015.
Altogether there were eight Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Varig, the airline operated from 2001 to 2006 these aircraft, despite a short time, relieved the company at times and gave a little hope for a moment.
Today, the history of the Boeing 777 in Brazil continues under the wings of LATAM, with the -300ER version.
Source for article at Varig Airlines
