The initial phase of the bilateral agreement allows for the two companies to expand services for customers travelling between Brazil and the UK, resulting in more destination options in both countries and convenient connections within the largest cities in Brazil and the UK.
Through the partnership customers of TAM and bmi will enjoy simplified flight reservation procedures, convenient connections with just one ticket and the ability to check baggage through to the final destination.
In the first phase, TAM's customers will be able to have flights from São Paulo to London Heathrow Airport aboard a Boeing 777-300ER (with 365 executive and economy class seats) to connect with bmi flights in Heathrow going on to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
bmi customers will be able to take direct flights from London Heathrow to São Paulo, Brazil aboard a Boeing 777 operated by TAM with connecting flights in São Paulo to the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Salvador and Fortaleza.
In a second phase the partnership will be expanded to include more bmi routes that will allow TAM to offer its customers more connection options over London to Europe. bmi customers will also benefit from the addition of TAM destinations to other South American countries including Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Lima (Peru).
Paulo Castello Branco, TAM's Commercial and Planning Vice President, said: "the agreement with bmi will allow us to offer our Brazilian customers more options in Europe in the medium term and reinforce our strategy of establishing partnerships with the world's foremost airline companies."
He added that the partnership follows TAM’s overall strategy of expanding international operations and positioning itself as one of the leading companies in the global aviation market.
"We are delighted to begin this codeshare partnership with TAM, making our network of domestic UK flights available to customers who travel for pleasure or business and adding mid-range destinations to the network," said bmi Managing Director, Peter Spencer.
bmi is part of BSP Brazil (which allows authorised Brazilian travel agents to issue tickets for the company in Brazil) and is a member of the Star Alliance, the global airline alliance that TAM will become a member of in the first quarter of 2010.