Delta, American and TAM add new service

Business travelers headed for Brazil will have more flight options in the months ahead, as three airlines – Delta, American and Brazil’s TAM – have unveiled plans for additional routes later this year. Delta said it will launch new daily non-stops December 19 between its Atlanta hub and Manaus, using a 737-700; and daily non-stops starting December 21 between Atlanta and Recife, continuing on to Fortaleza and returning directly from there to Atlanta. Those flights will use a 757-200, Delta said. Delta currently flies from Atlanta and New York JFK to Sao Paulo, and from Atlanta to Rio de Janeiro. American Airlines has scheduled new service from its Miami hub beginning November 2 on two new Brazil routes: one operating non-stop to Belo Horizonte three times a week, and another to Recife via a stop in Salvador de Bahia, with daily service. Meanwhile, Brazil’s TAM has scheduled a September 19 start for new daily service between Rio de Janeiro and Miami; that flight will originate in Belo Horizonte. TAM said it plans to expand its long-haul network “before the end of the year” with two more new Brazil-U.S. routes: Rio de Janeiro-New York and Sao Paulo-Orlando. Those routes are awaiting government approvals, TAM said.