The recently initiated merger plan involving Brazil's TAM and Chile's LAN airlines is likely to create significant benefits for travel between Australian and Brazil. As an existing Partner of Qantas and with a strong presence in Australia, LAN Chile already services a strong portion of Australia to South America travellers, however Brazil flights have always required between one and three stops, usually Auckland, New Zealand and Santiago, Chile before connections with either Sao Paulo or Rio.
Furthermore, Qantas now flies directly into Buenos Aires, offering one stop options into Brazil, however on a limited basis and with relatively few coordinated Buenos Aires to Brazil flights.
Given TAM is Brazil´s biggest airline, the new merger should open up a wealth of additional options both through LAN and Qantas and cut down the amount of stops required to reach different parts of Brazil.
While a direct Australia-Brazil flight is unlikely in the short term, the merger will certainly be an important change, particularly for the 2014 World Cup with its 12 host cities spread right around the country.