Brazil’s TAM Airlines is looking to tap the burgeoning Indian aviation market. To this end, the carrier and the Brazilian Embassy in India together organised workshops in Mumbai and Delhi last week to educate the Indian travel trade about Brazil’s tourism products and TAM Airlines’ offerings.
A total of 125 travel agents and tour operators participated in both the workshops. While TAM Airlines presented its different international and domestic routes, offers and frequent flyer programmes, the Brazilian Embassy showcased destinations such as Brasilia, Rio de Janerio, Sao Paulo, Salvador, The Amazon and lesser-known destinations such as Manaus, Olinda, Curitiba and Porto Alegre. TAM Airlines, a Star Alliance member, currently doesn't operate to India and has plans to engage Indian travellers through code-share agreements with major airlines operating in India. The airline had appointed InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India last year. “At present, we are focusing on possibilities to strengthen our presence through our tie-up with InterGlobe, but we are also analysing the prospects of signing a code-share agreement with Indian carriers. However, things are currently at the nascent stage,” stated Thierry Curey, General Manager – Asia, TAM Airlines. He added that with the support of Star Alliance, TAM Airlines flies to 1,110 destinations across Europe, North America and South America; operating 860 daily flights and catering to 50 million pax every year. “We cater to the European market in a big way and have five gateways - London, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt - to cater to the Indian market,” he said. Josal Luiz Pellegrino, Consul General of Brazil – India, said, “Brazil offers several tourism options such as Eco-Adventure Tourism, Cultural and Heritage Tourism, historical sites, golf sites, national parks, and a lot more. We also ensure that visa processing for Indian nationals visiting Brazil is fast and smooth. Last year, around 90 per cent of visas were processed within four days of application. In case of emergencies, we ensure that visas are processed in three days.”
Click here to see the original article>A total of 125 travel agents and tour operators participated in both the workshops. While TAM Airlines presented its different international and domestic routes, offers and frequent flyer programmes, the Brazilian Embassy showcased destinations such as Brasilia, Rio de Janerio, Sao Paulo, Salvador, The Amazon and lesser-known destinations such as Manaus, Olinda, Curitiba and Porto Alegre. TAM Airlines, a Star Alliance member, currently doesn't operate to India and has plans to engage Indian travellers through code-share agreements with major airlines operating in India. The airline had appointed InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India last year. “At present, we are focusing on possibilities to strengthen our presence through our tie-up with InterGlobe, but we are also analysing the prospects of signing a code-share agreement with Indian carriers. However, things are currently at the nascent stage,” stated Thierry Curey, General Manager – Asia, TAM Airlines. He added that with the support of Star Alliance, TAM Airlines flies to 1,110 destinations across Europe, North America and South America; operating 860 daily flights and catering to 50 million pax every year. “We cater to the European market in a big way and have five gateways - London, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt - to cater to the Indian market,” he said. Josal Luiz Pellegrino, Consul General of Brazil – India, said, “Brazil offers several tourism options such as Eco-Adventure Tourism, Cultural and Heritage Tourism, historical sites, golf sites, national parks, and a lot more. We also ensure that visa processing for Indian nationals visiting Brazil is fast and smooth. Last year, around 90 per cent of visas were processed within four days of application. In case of emergencies, we ensure that visas are processed in three days.”