TAM Airlines Targets Chinese Market

Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines has established a new commercial base in China as it works to develop new links with the Asian market. The company says the new operation will facilitate the introduction of new services to the Chinese market and strengthen its relationship with the country’s travel agents and existing and potential clients.

TAM launched its first administrative and commercial office in Asia, in Hong Kong in February and its Chinese facility will be its third back office function, similar to the models already operating in Madrid and Miami. The units provide technical and commercial support to a whole network of travel agents and representations of the company in the continent. TAM currently has commercial representation in 45 offline markets, 12 of them in Asia. It also has management offices in Japan and China.

“China is one of Brazil’s largest commercial partners and a leading destination for Brazilian exports in 2010, facts which result in significant passenger and cargo traffic between the two countries. It is an excellent opportunity for us to earn new revenue”, said Paulo Castello Branco, Commercial and Alliance Vice-President, TAM.

According to official data from the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, Brazil received 37,849 visitors from China, an increase of 34 per cent in relation to the previous year. TAM does not currently offer any flights to the Asian or Australasian markets in its own right but does codeshare with its Star Alliance partner Air China on twice weekly flights between Beijing and São Paulo via Madrid and with All Nippon Airways between London Heathrow and Tokyo Narita.