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TAM Airlines, Brazil largest airline, has launched a new commercial base in Beijing, China. By expanding its operations in China, the company continues its strategy of targeting new passengers from the Asian market through a commercial policy devised for the region. The company’s aim is to introduce its services to the Chinese market and strengthen its relationship with the country’s travel agents and existing and potential clients.
“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”, explains Paulo Castello Branco, Commercial and Alliance vice-president of TAM.
In 2010, Brazil received 37,849 visitors from China, an increase of 34% in relation to the previous year. Of this total, 36,444, or 96%, used air transportation to travel to Brazil, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism.
Since 2009, TAM Airlines has had a codeshare agreement with Air China, its partner in the Star Alliance, connecting Beijing and Sao Paulo (via Madrid). In February this year, TAM launched its first administrative and commercial office in Asia, located in Hong Kong. This is the company’s third back office, 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.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
