Air China Launches One Stop South America Route - 

Get ready for some exciting news from the world of aviation. Air China is getting set to relaunch its flight services to South America starting this April, and it's a pretty big deal! This move is making waves in the aviation industry, especially because it will introduce the world's longest one-stop flight service.

So, what's the scoop? Well, Air China will be flying twice a week from Beijing Capital to São Paulo, and the route is specially tailored to serve the large Chinese Brazilian community living in São Paulo. Pretty cool, right?

According to some nifty data from Cirium, if you look at the flight schedules from May to August 2024, this service will take the crown as the longest one-stop, consistent-plane, and identical-flight-number operation using the Boeing 787 aircraft. And when you check out the distances on GCMap, you'll see that this route really stands out from the crowd.

Now, there are some other long-distance routes out there, like Aeromexico’s Mexico City-Monterrey-Seoul and KLM’s Amsterdam-Buenos Aires-Santiago, but they don't quite measure up to Air China's new service. Over the past couple of decades, there have been other airlines offering one-stop flights between Asia and South America, but Air China is the only one to offer a direct link from China.

This isn't the first time Air China has flown this route, though. They initially started flying from China to South America via Madrid back in December 2006. The route has seen some upgrades over the years, starting with the Boeing 767, then moving to the Airbus A330-200, and finally switching to the more fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 in 2017. Unfortunately, they had to suspend the service because of the pandemic, but now it's making a comeback!

Important details about the One Stop South America Route: 

• Flights from Beijing to Madrid and then on to São Paulo will operate on Thursdays and Sundays
• This is a  rare daytime service from South America to Europe
• The journey to Brazil will take just under 26 hours
• the return trip to China will be around 22 and a half hours

This comeback not only shows Air China's dedication to connecting continents but also opens up new travel possibilities for tourists and the global Chinese community. It's bound to boost tourism and strengthen cultural ties between China, Spain, and Brazil. So, buckle up and get ready for a new way to fly between China and South America.

Plan your next trip here

Welcome to Brazil eVisa

The website to apply for an eVisa to travel to Brazil is now live. From January 10th, passport holders from the United States, Canada and Australia will need to present an eVisa which must be applied for through this website: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/. The application process is done completely online and for such, no facilitation is required by any intermediaries.

REQUIREMENTS

The passport holder must have a valid passport, fill out the form, upload the documents and pay a fee, and must comply with all the requirements, as below:
• Intention to go to Brazil as a visitor or for business.
• Stay in Brazil will not exceed 90 days.
• Holders of an American, Canadian or Australian passport.
• Passport (signed, valid up to end of Brazil trip, 2 visa pages free).
• Visa application form (completed online).
• Upload a passport-style photo (2”x 2” square on a white background).
• Confirmation of flight reservation (showing entrance into and exit from Brazil).
• Bank statement showing transactions for the last 30 days and showing at least US$ 2,000.00 for travel.
• For additional requirements for minors and business travel, please click here.
• E-visa fee payment (US$ 80.90).
• Payment can only be made using a Mastercard, Visa or UnionPay credit/debit card. The card doesn’t need to be under the passenger’s name.
• The eVisa fee will be charged in US Dollars.
• Each traveller must obtain an individual eVisa, including infants and children. The eVisa applications can be created for a single individual or a family (minimum of 2 and maximum of 10 people).
• The fee is paid per person even when applying as a family.

Additional documents (Public Deed, Sponsorship Affidavit, Proof of Employment) can be provided to improve the evaluation process, but are not mandatory.

Additional documents can be required later on to grant the eVisa.

Although the application has a field to upload a vaccination card, Brazil DOES NOT require any proof of vaccination to enter the country.

Uploading the air ticket to the application is mandatory. Although it says “Round Trip Flight Itinerary”, uploading a ticket with an entry in Brazil and returning from another country is acceptable when visiting multiple South American countries. Just add your travel itinerary to “Additional Documents” at the end of the page.

The passport-style photo can be taken at home, with any camera, even a mobile phone. But it must be clear, with sufficient lighting, no glasses, over a white background.

IMPORTANT: This has caused some confusion. When filling out the first login information, the last field says “OTP”, which means One Time Password. By clicking on “Send OTP”, they will receive this OTP in their email, which must be entered here to sign in.

For more information please contact us ar BeBrazil

LATAM returns to South Africa - check the Flight schedule here

LATAM has made a triumphant return to South Africa, with its inaugural flight gracefully touching down at OR Tambo on Sunday, September 3rd. Body and Soul South Africa is brimming with excitement as we welcome LATAM back to our shores, and we have every reason to believe that the resurgence of the MICE sector connecting South Africa and South America will experience remarkable growth once more.

South America has consistently been a favored destination for South African travelers, and we are thrilled to rekindle your interest in the incredible adventures waiting to be explored on behalf of your clients. Additionally, we proudly represent an array of exceptional DMCs within the region, ready to assist you in crafting many unforgettable experiences. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for the best DMCs in Latin America!

Flight schedule LATAM - the latest information

Flights between Latin America and South Africa have started up again.  During the pandemic, LATAM stopped international, regional, and domestic flights. 

We are very pleased to let you know that these flights have now resumed. 

In addition, the Cape Verde government has officially announced the revival of flight connections between the African archipelago and Fortaleza, Ceará, effectively establishing a link between northern Africa and northeastern Brazil.

Source: https://www.latamairlines.com/