SAO PAULO, Brazil – TAM has just been chosen, for the sixth consecutive time, the best Brazilian airline by the readers of Viagem e Turismo magazine, which annually selects the best in the Brazilian tourism industry.

“It’s an honor to receive this recognition from the readers of the magazine, an award that reflects the effort and dedication of the company’s more than 24,000 employees,” said David Barioni Neto, president of TAM.

The winners receive the “2008 Best in Travel and Tourism” award. This year’s awards ceremony was held at the Morro da Urca, in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday, October 24.

During the same event, TAM Viagens received a Viagem e Turismo merit award, given to companies that distinguish themselves during the year in each sector, as assessed by the publication’s staff. “We are very proud and happy to have been chosen by the magazine, especially when we have just completed ten years of service,” said Sylvio Ferraz Junior, director of TAM Viagens.

The Best in Travel and Tourism award, which was founded in 2001 and is now in its eighth edition, selects the best in the Brazilian and international tourism industry. The 22 categories include hotels, restaurants, beaches, parks and travel agencies.