Aviation History
Brazil holds a distinctive place in aviation history through Alberto Santos-Dumont, whose 1906 flight of the 14-bis in Paris is celebrated in Brazil as the first true public demonstration of powered, heavier-than-air flight. Domestic aviation developed through early carriers such as Varig, founded in 1927 in Porto Alegre, which became Brazil's dominant international airline for much of the 20th century. The state-backed manufacturer Embraer, founded in 1969, grew into one of the world's largest aircraft makers, particularly in regional jets. Market deregulation from the 1990s onward, the 2001 arrival of low-cost carrier GOL, and Varig's 2005-2006 bankruptcy reshaped the industry, which today is dominated by LATAM Brasil, GOL and Azul.
Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont flew his 14-bis aircraft in Paris, an event widely regarded, especially in Brazil, as the first publicly witnessed and officially certified powered flight.
Varig (Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense) was founded on 7 May 1927 in Porto Alegre, becoming Brazil's first airline and later its leading international carrier.
Embraer was established in 1969 as a Brazilian government-backed aerospace company; it was privatized in 1994 and grew into a major global manufacturer of regional and business jets.
TAM (Táxi Aéreo Marília) was founded in 1976 and grew into one of Brazil's largest airlines before merging into the LATAM group.
GOL Linhas Aéreas began operations in 2001, introducing low-cost domestic flying to the Brazilian market and challenging established carriers.
Brazil created the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) in 2005 to regulate civil aviation, replacing the former military-run aviation department.
Financial pressures, high costs and increased competition led Varig into bankruptcy; its operating assets were later acquired by GOL in 2007.
Brazil's TAM merged with Chile's LAN Airlines in 2012 to create LATAM Airlines Group, the largest airline group in Latin America.
LATAM Brasil (formerly TAM) · GOL Linhas Aéreas · Azul Linhas Aéreas · Varig (historical) · Embraer (manufacturer)
General aviation history sources (Wikipedia, Britannica, Embraer and Varig corporate histories); current airline market shares and manufacturer rankings are time-sensitive and approximate.