Avianca Brasil (São Paulo Congonhas) will make its intercontinental début next year with flights to Orlando International and Miami International Avianca Holdings chairman Germán Efromovich has revealed. Flights to Europe are expected to launch thereafter.

In an interview with Air Transport World, Efromovich said the carrier had originally planned to start longhaul operations this year but deferred them on the back of a weak Brazilian Real and national elections.

Initial operations will involve a fleet of four A330-200s, part of a 2012 Synergy Aerospace order for Avianca TACA International Airlines which included six A330-200s and three A330-200Fs, though this could grow to include ten A350-900s by 2018, he said.

Concerning Avianca Group's overall plans, Efromovich said studies into possible Asian routes are currently being conducted. Using its incoming fleet of B787-8s, the first of which is due early next month, Avianca could serve China and Japan via Los Angeles International. The Group's ambitious growth plans will be unscored by an order for more than 160 narrow body aircraft, set to be placed by the end of the year, Efromovich added.