Regional airline of the year: TAM

Just when you thought you knew the definition of a regional airline, up springs one such as Brazil's TAM Linhas Aereas, one of the most versatile and creative carriers in the world airline industry and our Regional Airline of the Year for 1995.

In the U.S., a regional carrier might be defined as one that serves large hubs from small and medium-sized cities, using turboprops and some regional jets, operating in a relatively small region. In Brazil, the situation is different, at least from TAM's perspective.

TAM's route system, which stretches 2,140 mi., is about five times the size of Prance. TAM and its subsidiary, Brasil Linhas Aereas, serve Brazil from Sao Paulo to Belem near the mouth of the Amazon, as far south as Rio Grande, to Fortaleza in the northeast and Porto Velho in the west, using a fleet of Fokker 100s and 50s, and single-engine, 12-seat Cessna Caravans. Only FedEx in the world operates more Caravans.

The Fokkers operate mainly out of Sao Paulo's downtown Congonhas Airport, TAM's headquarters, to several midsized and large business centers, and resort areas, while the GPS-equipped Caravans provide daily, reliable scheduled service to some of the most remote communities in the country.

Central is more than a feeder to TAM. As Brazil, which encompasses 3.3 million sq. mi., has...