TAM Airlines began a new seven-day-a-week, non-stop service between Rio de Janeiro and Orlando International Airport. It is TAM’s second Brazilian destination along with Sao Paulo.
“For the second time in the past four years we are proud to welcome an inaugural flight from Brazil to Orlando International Airport. To date, TAM has flown 330,000 travelers to our region,” said Dr. Jason Pirozzolo, Vice-Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “This one new route alone will bring more than $169 million in annual economic impact to our area, creating jobs and strengthening business connections. More importantly it helps other local companies to enter the growing Brazilian market. Combined with TAM’s two other daily flights, their total combined economic impact is more than half a billion dollars, which highlights the importance of bringing more international travel to Central Florida.”
TAM will serve the route using A330-200 aircraft. Each plane is capable of carrying 223 passengers; 4 in firstclass, 24 in business class and 195 in economy class.
In 2011 international passenger traffic made up approximately 10 percent of all travelers at Orlando International Airport with a record 3,502,584 international guests. So far this year international traffic is up nearly 10 percent over the previous record.
