B747-400 aircraft started flying for VARIG on December 1991, initially serving São Paulo-Rome route. PP-VPI was the first B747-400 to be incorporated into VARIG’s fleet. Those aircrafts feature winglets in their wing tips, thus reducing aerodynamic friction and, consequently, the fuel consumption.
The second, PP-VPG, was delivered on June 1992 and the third, PP-VPH, on April 20, 1993. With Boeing 747-400 VARIG began flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok, with a stop in Johannesburg. They also operated to Frankfurt, Buenos Aires and Nagoya.
Unfortunately all Boeing 747-400 were returned in a short time due high cost of leasing. All three units were returned in the second half of 1994. The PP-VPI was returned to the lessor in August, the PP-VPG in September and the PP-VPH in December. Subsequently, all of them started operating for Air New Zealand.

VARIG's Boeing 747-400 internal configuration:

1st
First Class: 16 seats
Business Class: 42 seats
Economy Class: 382 seats
TOTAL: 440

2nd
First Class: 16 seats
Business Class: 38 seats
Economy Class: 384 seats
TOTAL: 438

3rd
First Class: 16 seats
Business Class: 54 seats
Economy Class: 318 seats
TOTAL: 388