Varig economic difficulty. This purchase not only made Varig the largest airline in South America but also granted rights to other cities in Latin America, Miami, the West Coast of the United States and to Japan. European services started on . Varig had been lobbying for European concessions for more than ten years, but after the sudden shutdown of Panair do Brasil by the Brazilian military government Varig was granted rights previously held by Panair and was ordered to immediately operate all scheduled services, including Panair's flight scheduled to depart that very night from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão to Recife, Lisbon, Paris-Orly
South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (SPANZ) was a New Zealand airline, operating between 1960 and 1966. It is regarded as a forerunner to Ansett New Zealand. SPANZ was founded in 1960 by Bob Anderson and Rex Daniell, who had formerly been pilots for NAC, the state airline of the time. The Australian airline Ansett-ANA was a major shareholder. SPANZ was established in direct competition with NAC, although the airline's policy to link larger secondary towns. The New Zealand aviation industry at the time was highly regulated in favour of the state carrier, and