VASP (Viação Aérea São Paulo) was created on November 4, 1933 with two Monospar 6AL/MKII. On November 12, occurred the first flight between Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto and Uberaba.
In November, 1934 Vasp received one De Havilland DH-84 and started its second line: Sao Paulo - Sao Carlos - Rio Preto. But the company accumulated losses and asked Sao Paulo government for help even before complete one year of operation. Thus on March 10, 1935 Vasp was purchased by Sao Paulo state government.
In August 1936 Vasp acquired two Junkers JU-52/53 and inaugurated Congonhas airport. On August 5, 1936 a Junkers took off from Congonhas at the same time that another Junkers took off from Santos Dumont airport.
In 1939 Vasp expanded it network to Curitiba, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre.
During the Second World War, Vasp had difficulties to maintain European aircraft. Then the airline acquired American aircraft DC-3 to replaced all other aircraft in the fleet (a total of twenty seven units).
To replace DC-3, Vasp chose Saab 90 because it could operate in Santos Dumont airport and was cheaper than Convair. During the 50s Vasp operated all Saab 90 produced in the world! On June 21, 1950 Vasp acquired its first and until 1958 the airline had already bought all of them, with a total of eighteen units. With Saab Vasp increased frequencies between Rio and Sao Paulo and expanded it network to Campo Grande, Cuiaba, Belo Horizonte, Vitória, Salvador, Recife and Natal.
In 1955 Vasp ordered the Viscount 800. The airline received a total of five Viscount 800 and ten Viscount 700 and expanded its network to Brasilia and Manaus. In the 60s Vasp bought the YS-11, therefore the aircraft was known as "Samurai" due to its Japanese origin.
On January 7, 1962 Vasp bought Lloyd Aéreo and incorporated Curtiss C-46, DC-4 and DC-6. With Panair’s "bankruptcy" in 1965, Vasp tried to get international lines, but wasn’t successful.
In 1967 Vasp received its first jet, the BAC 1-11. In 1969 the BAC 1-11 were replaced by Boeing 737-200. On April 21, 1969 Vasp was the first Brazilian airline to receive a Boeing 737 and made a huge hit among passengers. Vasp acquired up to 23 units, the largest 737 fleet of Latin America at that time. Vasp also was the first Brazilian airline to operate the Boeing 737-300 in the 80s.
In November 1982 Vasp received its first wide-body, the A300B2. The Airbus A300 was the biggest aircraft of Vasp’s fleet so far and also made great success among the passengers.
In 1988 Sao Paulo state government was committed to privatizing Vasp and tried to improve its financial situation. On October first, 1990 the second largest airline in Brazil was bought by Voe Canhedo consortium. After its privatization Vasp began a huge expansion and doubled its fleet with new Boeing 737-300, 737-400, DC-8 and DC-10-30 reaching almost sixty aircrafts. Vasp also began a major expansion in the international market and ordered new MD-11.
In July 1992 Vasp started flights to Los Angeles, Seoul and Brussels. But in 1993 fourteen Boeing 737-300 and all 737-400, DC-8 and DC-10 had to be returned for leasing no payment.
In 1994 the airline received more two MD-11 and started flights to Miami and New York.
In 1995 inaugurated flights to Barcelona, Toronto and Zurich and created the Vasp Air System, after purchase TAN (Argentina), LAB (Bolivia) and Ecuatoriana (Ecuador).
In 1996 Vasp reached twelve MD-11 and started flights to Athens, Casablanca, Frankfurt and Osaka and created Vaspex, its cargo subsidiary.
In 1998 Vasp was superseded by Tam in domestic market.
In 1999 the airline suffered with Brazilian Real devaluation against US Dollar and was forced to return all MD-11 and cancel all international flights except Buenos Aires. The company's fleet was reduced to only own aircrafts.
In 2001 Vasp canceled all international flights and undid Vasp Air System. At this time Vasp did not pay lease anymore because it own the entire fleet. However the fleet was getting older and Vasp had no money to renew it. Also Vasp began to face stiff competition from Gol. In 2003 Vasp was overtaken by Gol (which was only two years old) and became the fourth largest in Brazil.
In September 2004 DAC (Civil Aviation Department) prevented eight Vasp’s 737-200 for no maintenance. The situation was getting worse and worse, Vasp’s fleet had an average of thirty years and the company had no money to perform its maintenance. Thus Vasp cannibalized its aircraft, ie, disassemble stored aircraft to pick up pieces to use in an active aircraft.
In 2005 only fourteen aircraft were in operation and less than 20% of scheduled flights were operated. Also Vasp’s aircraft only took off if the occupation was above 50%. In February 2005 DAC canceled Vasp's certificate and the airline stopped flying. On September 4, 2008 Vasp was declared insolvent.


 

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Founded: 1933
Ceassed: 2005
Hubs: Congonhas
Code: VSP / VP
Headquarters: Sao Paulo
Historical Fleet: Airbus A300B2, Boeing 727-200, Boeing 737-200, Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-400, De Havilland DH-84 "Dragon", Douglas C-47, Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-4, Douglas DC-6, Douglas DC-8-71F, Douglas DC-10-30, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Junkers 52, Junkers 53, Scandia Saab 90, Viscount 700, Viscount 800, Curtiss C-46, BAC 1-11, YS-11, Embraer EMB-110, Monospar
Destinations (domestic): about 35
Destinations (international): Buenos Aires, Aruba, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Bruxels, Zurich, Atens, Casablanca, Osaka, Soeul.

 

> Vasp's fleet

> Vasp's route map

 

Vaspex was established in 1996 as Vasp’s cargo subsidiary. In the 90s Vaspex operated one DC-10-30F, but not for long. Its fleet maintained with two Boeing 727-200F and two 737-200F. In 2005 stopped flying along with Vasp.

 

On December 22, 1947 was founded TCA with three Douglas C-47. In August 1949 the company was renamed to Lóide Aéreo Nacional with nine Curtiss C-46 and flights to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Sao Luis, Fortaleza, Carolina, Formosa and Bom Jesus da Lapa. In 1953 the airline already served almost all Brazilian capitals.
In June 1959 Lóide Aéreo started cargo flights to Miami with four DC-6.
In 1962 was bought by Vasp.