Condor Syndikat was a German airline which flew from Germany to Chile passing through Brazil. In December 1, 1927 a Brazilian subsidiary, called Syndicato Condor, was funded in Rio de Janeiro. Later Condor Syndikat was bought by Lufthansa, which maintained the Brazilian subsidiary. Syndicato Condor operated domestic flights in Brazil and international flights to Uruguay and Argentina with German aircraft. During the Second World War, Brazil becomes U.S. ally and declare war against the Axis in August 1942. Three days later the company was nationalized and all Germans were removed.
In January 1943 the company changed its name to Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, erasing all German traces. Thereafter all German aircraft were replaced by American aircraft. The first DC-3 arrived in Brazil in September 1943 and began operating in Santos Dumont Airport.
In 1945 opened Rio de Janeiro - Caracas route in partnership with a Venezuelan airline. In the same year the company also started flights to Georgetown and Guyana and acquired SAVAG and Catarinense airlines.
On October 2, 1947 Cruzeiro received authorization to fly to the USA. To operate the route it had received three DC-4 in 1946. But the company never operate regularly to the USA. The airline gave up and changed the DC-4 for four Convair 340. The route to the USA was granted to Varig in 1952.
In January 1963 Cruzeiro received its first jet, the Caravelle. With the "bankruptcy" of Panair do Brasil in 1965, Cruzeiro do Sul received some domestic routes and some Catalina and Caravelle aircraft ex-Panair.
In January 1970 received its first Boeing 727-100 that operated on Rio de Janeiro - Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires route.
On May 22, 1975 Cruzeiro do Sul was purchased by Varig. Initially the airline operated independently. In the same year received its first Boeing 737-200.
In June 1980 Cruzeiro received its first wide-body and its biggest aircraft ever, two Airbus A300B4.
In 1983 Cruzeiro received one MD-80 for experimental flights. The only MD-80 flew on domestic routes successfully, but the airline declined to order it.
In 1992 Varig absorbed Cruzeiro. On January first, 1993 Cruzeiro do Sul officially ceased, but it aircraft could be seen until 1997, when the last Boeing 737-200 was painted in Varig’s colors.

Founded: 1927
Ceased: 1975/1993
Hubs: Santos Dumont
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro
Code: CRZ / SC

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