Dépêches

TAM Launches Multiplus Fidelidade and Expands the Concept of Customer Loyalty

Dépèche transmise le 18 juin 2009 par PRNewswire

SAO PAULO, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- TAM presents today Multiplus Fidelidade, its new business unit based on the concept of networks of customer loyalty programs. Through Multiplus Fidelidade, customers will be able to accumulate points from a variety of customer loyalty programs in a single account and redeem prizes at a variety of companies: drugstores, gas stations, telephone providers, supermarkets, hotels, movie theaters, bookstores, banks, credit cards, internet providers and car manufacturers, among others.

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TAM Fidelidade will continue to be the reward program for TAM's frequent fliers, offering benefits with which they are already familiar. Soon, its points will be entered into Multiplus Fidelidade, making it easier to accumulate points from other loyalty programs that already form part of the passenger's daily routine, as well as offer a greater selection of prizes to be redeemed.

"Multiplus Fidelidade was created to serve as an efficient tool for those companies that use reward programs to establish loyalty and retain customers," states Libano Barroso, Vice President of Finance, Management and IT at TAM. "We believe that this initiative has tremendous potential to take hold among Brazilian consumers based on examples of similar experiences in other countries, such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France." He believes the unit could well become an independent company in the future.

"The greatest attraction for the customer will be the ease with which points can be earned through purchases of airline tickets and everyday necessities, as well as the ease of exchanging accumulated points, whether for an airline ticket, a tour package, or goods or services offered by one of the many partners of Multiplus Fidelidade," notes Egberto Vieira Lima, TAM's manager of Business Development and head of Multiplus Fidelidade.

Now, Multiplus Fidelidade will allow members to accumulate points with the purchase of airline tickets for flights operated by TAM and a number of other airlines that are partners of the TAM Fidelidade frequent flyer program, in addition to a number of sales and service establishments that are already partners of TAM Fidelidade.

What is new with Multiplus is the possibility of redeeming points for tour packages with TAM Viagens, initially for clients from Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro. There are more than 20 different possibilities for both domestic and international excursions. Packages start at 35 thousand points, and include roundtrip airfare as well as accommodations. Claiming these tour packages will only be available through the Central Sales Office at TAM Viagens.

"The entry of more than 5.5 million current members of TAM Fidelidade into Multiplus will be automatic," stresses Libano Barroso. Members are being informed of how to take advantage of each one of the benefits available through being a member of Multiplus Fidelidade. Points already accumulated by current members of TAM Fidelidade will continue to be valid, available for redemption, and without any change of the rules in effect. The new partners of Multiplus, as well as the new alternatives for redemption of points, are to be disclosed shortly.

More information about Multiplus Fidelidade is available at: .

TAM () has been the domestic market leader since July of 2003, and closed May with a 44.9% market share. The company flies to 42 destinations in Brazil. With business agreements signed with regional companies, it reaches 79 different destinations in the national territory. TAM's market share among Brazilian companies that operate international flights stood at 86.8% in May. Operations abroad include direct flights to 18 destinations in the United States, Europe and South America: New York, Miami and Orlando (USA), Paris (France), London (England), Milan (Italy), Frankfurt (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Buenos Aires and Bariloche (Argentina), Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Santiago (Chile), Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay), Caracas (Venezuela) and Lima (Peru). In addition, it has code-share agreements that make it possible to offer seats on flights with international airlines, enabling passengers to travel to 64 other destinations in the U.S., South America and Europe. A pioneer in Brazil's airline industry with the launch of its Programa Fidelidade frequent flyer program, TAM today has more than 5.5 million members, and has issued more than 7.4 million tickets for frequent flyer points.

CONTACT: Libano Miranda Barroso, TAM Investor Relations, +55-11-5582-9715,fax, +55-11-5582-8149, . Photo: NewsCom:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/SPTH002LOGO