VARIG's first international long-haul route was to New York, in July 1955. Ever since this was VARIG's most important route until the end of the flights in 2006. The first aircraft used on the route was Super G Constellation, which along with Douglas DC-7 was the most advanced four-engine at that time. But unlike DC-7, Super Constellation was also famous for its beauty and became the biggest icon of aviation's glamor in the 50s. Build to carry over one hundred passengers, VARIG had an ultra comfortable setting with just about 60 seats. The flight time was 25 hours and with ​​stops in Belém and Trujillo. Initially the flight was twice a week and by the end of 50s VARIG  doubled the frequencies.
Also in 50s VARIG received more Super G Constellation, but this time equipped with "wing tip tank", so now it could fly from Rio de Janeiro to New York with only one stop. Thereafter VARIG offered flights between Rio and New York with two stops (in Bethlehem and Truijillo) and one stop (in Port of Spain).
Despite the improvement achieved with the wing tip tank, VARIG knew that it needed to do more. After all VARIG was competing with nothing less than Pan Am. So VARIG ordered the modern Boeing 707 and Caravelle jets in 1957. But Caravelle arrived before. Caravelle was a jet designed to operate only on short routes, anyway VARIG immediately used Caravelle in its route to New York, becoming the first airline in the world to operate a jet at JFK in 1959. As Caravelle had no autonomy to make nonstop flight to New York, it made stops in Belém, Port of Spain and Nassau. Nevertheless Caravelle reduced flight time from 25 to 14 hours. After that VARIG operated Rio - New York route twice a week with Caravelle and twice a week with Super G Constellation.
In 1960 the Boeing 707-441 finally arrived, the main weapon against the powerful Pan Am. VARIG had chose and waited for the 400 version just because it was the only one capable to fly nonstop between Rio de Janeiro and New York, thanks to the new Rolls Royce engines. Pan Am operated the Boeing 707-320 with Pratt & Witney, who had not sufficient autonomy and needed to make a stop. It gave a great advantage to VARIG, since it was the only one to offer nonstop flights between Rio and New York. However to achieve that VARIG operated at maximum limits, requiring full power of the engines and almost all the runway length. With the introduction of Boeing 707-441, the flight time was reduced to just nine hours. The Boeing 707-441 could carry about 150 passengers, but VARIG's used a more comfortable setting with fewer seats, six bathrooms and a washstand.
In 1960 VARIG offered three flights per week nonstop with Boeing 707-441, two flights per week with Caravelle with stops in Belém, Port of Spain and Nassau and two flights per week with Super G Constellation with stops in Port of Spain or in Belém and Trujillo.
In 1961 Caravelle stopped operating on the route to New York and VARIG's frequencies were: two weekly nonstop with Boeing 707-441, one with stops in Brasilia and Port of Spain with Boeing 707-441 and two weekly with Super G Constellation.
In 1966 arrived the first Boeing 707-341C with new Pratt & Witney JT3D engines able to fly farther than Boeing 707-441. Therefore Boeing 707-320C replaced both Super G Constellation and Boeng 707-441 on Rio de Janeiro - New York route, now only nonstop.
Everything was going well when, in 1970, Boeing and Pan Am introduce the new Boeing 747-100 wide-body. From that moment DC-8 and Boeing 707 outdated. With two aisles and much more capacity of previous jets, the new generation intercontinental jets changed forever the commercial aviation. VARIG knew it was a matter of time for Pan Am bring a wide-body to Brazil's route. So VARIG ordered the new Douglas DC-10-30 wide-body. On July 1, 1974 VARIG operated the first flight to New York with a wide-body aircraft. Initially VARIG's DC-10 were configured with 30 seats in first class and 211 in economy class, a total of 241 seats. Years later VARIG introduced the business class.
Although DC-10 was a wide-body, it wasn't as successful as the Boeing 747 and it was not too hard to figure out why. The fact was that Boeing 747 was the largest commercial aircraft in history, but Brazilian demand was not large enough for an aircraft with than 300 seats.
Only in February 1981 VARIG acquired its first Boeing 747. The advantage was that the Boeing 747 was a Combi verion, ie half passenger half cargo and instead of more than 300 seats, only about 250. On February 12, 1981 VARIG's Boeing 747-200B made ​​the first flight on Rio de Janeiro - New York route. Now, besides have the same aircraft of Pan Am, VARIG had a more modern version (Boeing 747-200 against Boeing 747-100 used by Pan Am).
At the end of the 80s VARIG introduced an even larger and modern aircraft, the Boeing 747-300. Initially in Combi version, but in 1988 VARIG received the first Boeing 747-300 "full passenger", able to carry about 400 passengers.
In 1987 VARIG received it first new generation jet, the Boeing 767-200ER, that began to share with Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-10 the route to New York.
Another important milestone in Brazilian aviation was in 1989, when VARIG inaugurated Guarulhos International Airport. Guess what was the route? New York - São Paulo with B747. After that the main VARIG's flight to New York was from São Paulo instead of Rio de Janeiro.
In early 90s Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-10 were replaced by the new MD-11, the most advanced aircraft in 1990 with full computerized cockpit and digital systems. However USA - Brazil market changed radically in the 90s, divided only by VARIG and Pan Am. In 1992 Pan Am went bankrupt and was replaced by American Airlines and and join the market also Transbrasil, Vasp, United, Continental and Delta. As a result the tickets prices and load factor slumped.
In 1998 Tam started flying to Miami with its ultra-modern Airbus A330 equipped with individual entertainment in all classes and armchairs that recline 180 degrees in business class. The old VARIG's MD-11 was not able to compete.
In November 2001 VARIG received it first Boeing 777-200, the most modern aircraft of that time. Finally the airline had an aircraft able to compete with the other airlines. However the first Boeing 777 began operate flights to Europe, only later replaced the MD-11 on São Paulo - New York route.
In November 2005 Tam made ​​its first flight to New York with the A330. In June 2006 VARIG indefinitely canceled its flights to New York, but the company never returned flights to its first intercontinental destination.