Transbrasil

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Transbrasil
Transbrasilnewlogo.jpg
IATA ICAO Callsign
QD (as Sadia)
TR (as Transbrasil)		TBATRANSBRASIL
Founded5 January 1955;69 years ago (1955-01-05)
Commenced operations16 March 1956;68 years ago (1956-03-16)
Ceased operations3 December 2001;22 years ago (2001-12-03)
Hubs São Paulo, Brazil
Frequent-flyer program TransPass
Subsidiaries Aerobrasil
Interbrasil STAR
Headquarters Brasília, Brazil
Key peopleOmar Fontana
Website transbrasil.com.br/i/index.htm

TransBrasil was a Brazilian airline which ceased operations on 3 December 2001. During most of its history, Transbrasil was owned by local entrepreneur Omar Fontana. Its aircraft usually featured a colorful livery, remarkably with a rainbow on the tail fin. [1] Transbrasil base was President Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport in Brasília. [2] From the 1970s and until its demise in 2002, Transbrasil was usually the third largest Brazilian airline after Varig and VASP, serving both domestic and international routes.

Contents

History

First years as Sadia (1955–1972)

A Dart Herald at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport in 1973 Transbrasil Handley Page HRP.7 Herald 214 Volpati-1.jpg
A Dart Herald at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport in 1973

Transbrasil was born in the State of Santa Catarina as a sister company of S/A Indústria e Comércio Concórdia, better known by its acronym Sadia. In 1953 Omar Fontana, a pilot and one of the sons of the founder of Sadia Attilio Fontana, noticed that a Douglas DC-3 remained parked at Joaçaba Airport, near Concórdia, for the entire weekend. Omar Fontana came up with the idea of leasing the aircraft for transporting the products of Sadia to São Paulo. In 1954 Sadia acquired its own Douglas DC-3 and started daily flights to São Paulo–Congonhas Airport, having Omar as one of its crew members. However, since it was not an airline with a regular schedule, it could not receive subventions from the government. In order to avoid this restriction, on January 5, 1955 Omar Fontana founded Sadia S/A – Transportes Aéreos with 35 employees, 3 Douglas DC-3s and 2 Curtiss C-46s. The first regular flight was operated on March 16, 1956. [3]

TransBrasil BAC 1-11 series 500 at Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport in 1975 BAC 1-11 520FN PP-SDR T.Bsl Cong 06.04.75 edited-2.jpg
TransBrasil BAC 1-11 series 500 at São Paulo Congonhas Airport in 1975

Sadia enlarged Concórdia Airport so that a Douglas DC-3 could operate with full load and created the first route linking Concórdia with Videira, Florianópolis, and São Paulo–Congonhas. A short time later, Sadia was also operating to Londrina, Bauru, Ribeirão Preto and Brasília. [4]

Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante of Transbrasil at Rio Santos Dumont airport in 1975 Embraer EMB-110 PT-TBC T.Brasil SDU 05.04.75 edited-2.jpg
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante of Transbrasil at Rio Santos Dumont airport in 1975

In November 1957, Sadia established a partnership with Real Transportes Aéreos and became a feeder airline at Florianópolis. Whereas Real's Linneu Gomes got 50% of the shares of Sadia, Omar Fontana became part of the managing board of Real, where he gained airline experience. At this time Sadia moved its headquarters to São Paulo and expanded services to Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont and Porto Alegre. This partnership ended in 1961 with the demise of Real and Fontana bought back the shares he had earlier sold to Gomes. [5]

In 1962 Sadia bought TASSA–Transportes Aéreos Salvador S/A and increased its presence in Bahia. Its fleet had now 15 Douglas DC-3s and 12 Curtiss C-46s serving 53 cities. [6]

In 1967 most of Sadia network was eligible to receive subventions from the Federal government and aiming at those subventions Sadia bought five Handley Page Dart Heralds. [7] In 1968 Sadia joined the shuttle service (Portuguese : Ponte Aérea, meaning "air bridge") between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and São Paulo-Congonhas airports, operated since 1959 by Varig, Cruzeiro do Sul and VASP. [8] This service was abandoned only in 1999.

The first jet airliner type to be introduced into the fleet of Sadia, a stretched BAC One-Eleven Series 500, entered into service on September 17, 1970. In 1972 the name of the airline was changed to Transbrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas and its headquarters were moved to Brasília. [9]

Former logo of Transbrasil TransBrasil70s.png
Former logo of Transbrasil

Consolidation as Transbrasil (1972–1983)

Boeing 727-100 at Salvador International Airport Transbrasil Boeing 727-21 at Salvador Airport.jpg
Boeing 727-100 at Salvador International Airport

Apogee and downturn (1983–2003)

Boeing 737-300 Transbrasil. Transbrasil Boeing 737-3Q4; PT-TEG, November 1996 DCV (4974887907).jpg
Boeing 737-300 Transbrasil.
Boeing 727-100 Transbrasil Boeing 727-27-C, TransBrasil JP5852711.jpg
Boeing 727-100 Transbrasil

In 1990 Transbrasil fleet consisted of three 767-200, three Boeing 707 for cargo and passenger service (operated by its affiliated company, Aerobrasil) and 15 leased Boeing 737-300 and -400. In addition to domestic flights to most of the larger Brazilian cities, Transbrasil offered regular and charter service to Miami, Orlando, New York, Washington, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Amsterdam, London and even Beijing. During some time, due to discounted ticket prices and an aggressive commercial strategy Transbrasil surpassed VASP as the second largest Brazilian airline.

Despite its growing market share, Transbrasil was already experiencing financial problems. In 1987 after a formal request of its chairman Omar Fontana, Brazilian government took over Transbrasil management. However, soon Fontana started to disagree with the Brazilian Air Force officers nominated to run the company and in 1989 the intervention was cancelled. After Fontana stepped out from Transbrasil management due to health issues, the company was run by his son-in-law Celso Cipriani - a former police officer with no previous experience on airline management. Cipriani tenure on Transbrasil was controversial, and he has been formally charged with fraud, embezzlement of funds and property and mismanagement since then. [10]

On January 14, 1994, Transbrasil created its regional subsidiary Interbrasil STAR to operate as feeder-carrier. Services started on July 3, 1995. [ citation needed ]

In addition to the management problems, Transbrasil was also facing other difficulties, specially the reduced or no profit from its international routes, severe competition from other companies in the domestic front (specially TAM, a former air taxi company with a growing fleet) and growing expenses. Following the September 11 attacks, despite several government loans, Transbrasil was amassing huge debts with several suppliers. When Shell refused to further supply fuel without payment, Transbrasil's then aging and reduced fleet was grounded on 3 December 2001. It never returned to the air, and was declared bankrupt in 2003 at the request of one of its major debtors - GE Capital Aviation Services. [11]

After bankruptcy (2003–2010)

TransBrasil planes abandoned at Brasilia International Airport since 2001 TransBrasil airplanes at BSB 09 2009 7136.jpg
TransBrasil planes abandoned at Brasília International Airport since 2001

On 16 September 2009 the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court began the analysis of the legality of the bankruptcy of Transbrasil. [12] The bankruptcy was confirmed on 2 October 2009. [13]

That same year, the Public Ministry was preparing to file charges against the senior management of the company. The main accused being Celso Cipriani, who allegedly committed crimes that hastened the company's demise. [14]

In 2010, the debt which caused the bankruptcy of Transbrasil was invalidated by the Court of Justice of São Paulo. [15]

On 15 February 2023, it was announced that the airframes of PT-TAA and PT-TAB would be moved away after being abandoned for 21 years at Brasília Airport. [16] This finally happened on 17 February 2023. [17]

Destinations

Transbrasil operated scheduled services to the destinations below. The list includes destinations served by subsidiaries Interbrasil STAR, Aerobrasil and also destinations operated under the airline original name Sadia. [18]

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
Argentina Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport
Córdoba Pajas Blancas International Airport
Austria Vienna Schwechat Airport
Brazil Aracaju Santa Maria Airport
Bauru Bauru Airport
Belém Val-de-Cans International Airport
Belmonte Belmonte Airport
Belo Horizonte Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport
Pampulha Airport
Brasília Pres. Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport
Caçador Caçador Airport
Caculé Caculé Airport
Caetité Caetité Airport
Campina Grande Pres. João Suassuna Airport
Campinas Viracopos International Airport
Caravelas Caravelas Airport
Cascavel Cascavel Airport
Chapecó Chapecó Airport
Concórdia Concórdia Airport
Criciúma/Forquilhinha Forquilhinha/Criciúma Airport
Cuiabá/Várzea Grande Mal. Rondon International Airport
Curitiba Afonso Pena International Airport
Erechim Erechim Airport
Fernando de Noronha Fernando de Noronha Airport
Florianópolis Hercílio Luz International Airport
Fortaleza Pinto Martins International Airport
Foz do Iguaçu Cataratas International Airport
Goiânia Santa Genoveva Airport
Ilhéus Ilhéus Airport
Joaçaba Joaçaba Airport
João Pessoa Pres. Castro Pinto International Airport
Joinville Joinville Airport
Londrina Londrina Airport
Maceió Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport
Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport
Ponta Pelada Airport airport closed
Maringá Dr. Gastão Vidigal Airportairport closed
Sílvio Name Júnior Regional Airport
Nanuque Nanuque Airport
Natal Augusto Severo International Airport
Navegantes Navegantes Airport
Poços de Caldas Poços de Caldas Airport
Porto Alegre Salgado Filho International Airport
Prado Prado Airport
Quixadá Quixadá Airport
Recife Guararapes International Airport
Ribeirão Preto Leite Lopes Airport
Rio de Janeiro Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport
Santos Dumont Airport
Salinas Salinas Airport
Salvador da Bahia Dep. Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport
São José do Rio Preto São José do Rio Preto Airport
São Luís Mal. Cunha Machado International Airport
São Paulo Congonhas Airport
Guarulhos–Gov. André Franco Montoro International Airport
Teresina Sen. Petrônio Portella Airport
Uberlândia Uberlândia Airport
Umuarama Umuarama Airport
Videira Videira Airport
Vitória Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport
Canada Montreal Mirabel International Airport
Chile Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Netherlands Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Portugal Lisbon Portela Airport
Porto Pedras Rubras Airport
United Kingdom London Gatwick Airport
United States Miami Miami International Airport
New York City John F. Kennedy International Airport
Orlando Orlando International Airport
Washington, D.C. Dulles International Airport

Fleet

A Transbrasil Boeing 767-200ER at John F. Kennedy International Airport (1994) Transbrasil Boeing 767-200 PT-TAI JFK 1994-6-13.png
A Transbrasil Boeing 767-200ER at John F. Kennedy International Airport (1994)
SADIA and TRANSBRASIL FLEETS [19] [20]
AircraftTotalYears of OperationNotes
Douglas DC-3 121955–1968
Curtiss C-46 31956–1967
Handley Page Dart Herald 101963–1976
BAC One-Eleven series 500101971–1978
Embraer EMB 110 61973–1976
Boeing 727-100 221974–1989
Boeing 707 101982–1991
Boeing 767-200 91983–2001
Boeing 737-300 131986–2001
Boeing 737-400 51989–2001
Boeing 767-300 51991–2001

Airline Affinity Program

TransPass was the Frequent-flyer program of Transbrasil. Points could be used on Transbrasil and Interbrasil STAR services. Points held at the time of the airline's collapse lost their value as no other airline took over the program. [ citation needed ]

Accidents and incidents

As Sadia

As Transbrasil

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Aviation Design"." Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  2. ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 127." Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
  3. ↑ Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (2005). História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: de janeiro de 1946 a janeiro de 1956 após o término da Segunda Guerra Mundial até a posse do Dr. Juscelino Kubitschek como Presidente da República (in Portuguese). Vol. 4. Rio de Janeiro: GR3 Comunicação & Design. p. 348.
  4. ↑ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. p. 219.
  5. ↑ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. pp. 219–220.
  6. ↑ Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (2014). História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: de janeiro de 1956 a dezembro de 1966 Da posse do Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira até as vésperas da Reforma Administrativa (in Portuguese). Vol. 5. Rio de Janeiro: Incaer. p. 473.
  7. ↑ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. p. 220.
  8. ↑ Beting, Gianfranco; Beting, Joelmir (2009). Varig: Eterna Pioneira (in Portuguese). Porto Alegre and São Paulo: EDIPUCRS and Beting Books. pp. 83–84. ISBN   978-85-7430-901-9.
  9. ↑ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. pp. 220–221.
  10. ↑ "Transbrasil News 10 {in Portuguese}" . Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Transbrasil Secret Files {in Portuguese}" . Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "STJ inicia análise de falência da Transbrasil". Valor Econômico (on line). 16 September 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  13. ↑ "STJ confirma falência da Transbrasil". Valor Econômico (on line). 2 October 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  14. ↑ "Ministério Público vai denunciar ex-administradores da Transbrasil". O Estadao de S.Paulo. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  15. ↑ "Falência turbinada". Istoé Dinheiro. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "Aviões da TransBrasil começam a ser retirados do Aeroporto de Brasília". Aeroflap. 15 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Veja como foi a retirada parcial dos dois aviões da TransBrasil no Aeroporto de Brasília". Aeroflap. 17 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Transbrasil". Airline Timetable Images. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  19. ↑ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. pp. 229–231.
  20. ↑ Davies, R. E. G. (1997). Transbrasil: An Airline and its Aircraft. McLean: Paladwr Press. pp. passim.
  21. ↑ "Accident description PP-SLL". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  22. ↑ "Accident description PP-SDJ". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  23. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Serra da Graciosa". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 256–261. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  24. ↑ "Accident description PP-AST". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  25. ↑ "Accident description PT-TBD". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  26. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Estouro de pneu na decolagem". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 302–307. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  27. ↑ "Accident description PT-TYS". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  28. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Transbrasil 303". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 313–317. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  29. ↑ "Accident description PT-TCS". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  30. ↑ "At Least 16 Die as Brazilian Jet Hits Shantytown". The New York Times. 22 March 1989. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  31. ↑ "Accident description PT-TCS". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
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