Brazil Pelé Varig-Alitalia Airlines Vintage Travel Poster c.2001 | Happiest Kid Finds

Brazil - Pele
Varig-Alitalia airlines partnership travel poster

dimensions: 25 1/8" x 35 1/4"
date: c.2001
condition: Good to very good; the poster is linen backed. Shows some signs of normal wear; the poster had been hung; there are some impressions of where tape was on the back and faint spots of discoloration on the front - mostly visible up close.

Although not too old, this is a rare poster. For one, the central focus is Brazil's national treasure, Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the country's legendary footballer who played as a forward, and who helped to win three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). As you continue looking, additional notable landmarks are presented by different photographers to offer a lively and colorful invitation to visit Brazil.

What also makes this poster so unique is that it shows the names of two major airlines that worked together to offer a "seamless service on a higher number of daily flights, with very convenient connections for both markets."

Both Varig and Alitalia airlines have ceased operations but were at one time, the major airlines for their respective countries. Varig was founded in 1927 in Brazil. It was the country's leading airline from 1965 to 1990 and was its only international airline. Alitalia was founded in 1946 and government owned until 2009 when it became privately owned; it was the "flag carrier and largest airline of Italy." After so many years of internal turmoil, in efforts to strategize and try to keep operations going, both companies formed a partnership and announced a codeshare in September of 2001, It's not unheard of for companies to work together as in this case, the "presidents of the two carriers had signed a Memorandum of Understanding leading to a close co-operation on the Italian and Brazilian markets."

Varig airlines ceased operations in 2006; Alitalia ceased operations in late 2021.

Price: $449.99