SAVAG – Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha
SAVAG was a Brazilian regional airline founded in 1946 that served southern Brazil before being absorbed by Cruzeiro do Sul in 1966.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
SAVAG, formally Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha, was a Brazilian regional airline established in Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, on November 25, 1946. Its original concession authorized scheduled air services within Rio Grande do Sul, and the company later received authority to extend operations into neighboring Santa Catarina. The airline was created by Augusto Otero and Gustavo Kraemer during the postwar expansion of commercial aviation in Brazil, when smaller carriers played an important role in linking interior cities that were not well served by surface transportation. The company began flying in 1947 after acquiring three Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar aircraft from Panair do Brasil. Its initial network connected Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé. In 1948, SAVAG expanded its service toward northern areas of Rio Grande do Sul. The airline’s operation was primarily regional, with a focus on connecting cities across southern Brazil rather than developing a large national or international network. SAVAG later obtained two Douglas DC-3 aircraft from Cruzeiro do Sul and developed an operational partnership with that airline. The relationship provided support as SAVAG competed with Varig, which was a stronger and more politically influential carrier in the region. According to the historical account of the airline, Varig challenged SAVAG’s route concessions by arguing that the market was experiencing excessive competition. The Air Force Ministry subsequently canceled SAVAG’s route authorizations progressively, weakening the company’s ability to maintain an independent network. By 1960, SAVAG’s destinations included cities in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. The listed points included Alegrete, Bagé, Carazinho, Cascavel, Erechim, Joaçaba, Passo Fundo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Santana do Livramento, Toledo, and Uruguaiana. This network illustrates the airline’s role as a connector of southern Brazilian regional centers, including cities that were outside the primary trunk routes of the country’s largest airlines. SAVAG’s history was also marked by two fatal accidents. On January 11, 1949, a Lockheed Lodestar operating from Pelotas to Porto Alegre crashed shortly after takeoff from Pelotas, killing all eight people aboard. The likely cause was reported as fuel contamination. On July 30, 1950, another SAVAG Lodestar flying from Porto Alegre to São Borja in poor weather struck a hill near São Francisco de Assis and caught fire. All ten occupants died, including founder and pilot Gustavo Kraemer and Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, a senator and Brazil’s first Minister of Air Force. The company ceased to exist as an independent airline on January 1, 1966, when it was bought and merged into Cruzeiro do Sul. SAVAG therefore represents an important but short-lived phase in the development of regional aviation in southern Brazil. Its historical legacy remains visible in aviation place names: Bagé International Airport was named after Gustavo Kraemer in 1953, while Porto Alegre’s airport bears the name of Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, who died in the 1950 accident.
History
SAVAG was founded on November 25, 1946, in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, by Augusto Otero and Gustavo Kraemer. Its initial operating concession covered air routes within Rio Grande do Sul and was later expanded to include Santa Catarina. The airline emerged during a period when aviation was becoming an important means of linking Brazil’s regional centers, particularly in areas where road and rail connections were limited or slow. In 1947, SAVAG purchased three Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar aircraft from Panair do Brasil and inaugurated services linking Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé. The following year it expanded toward northern Rio Grande do Sul. The company’s services were regional in character, concentrating on the southern part of the country rather than attempting to build a broad national network. SAVAG acquired two Douglas DC-3 aircraft from Cruzeiro do Sul and formed an operational partnership with that carrier. This association was significant because SAVAG faced strong competition from Varig, a larger and more politically influential airline in the region. The historical account of SAVAG states that Varig pressured the Air Force Ministry to cancel SAVAG’s route concessions gradually, alleging that the market was subject to excessive competition. The loss of concessions reduced SAVAG’s ability to operate independently. The airline’s network was nevertheless substantial for a regional carrier. In 1960, its destinations included Alegrete, Bagé, Carazinho, Cascavel, Erechim, Joaçaba, Passo Fundo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Santana do Livramento, Toledo, and Uruguaiana, across Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. Two fatal accidents became central events in the company’s history. On January 11, 1949, a Lodestar flying from Pelotas to Porto Alegre crashed soon after takeoff, killing eight people. Fuel contamination was reported as the likely cause. On July 30, 1950, another Lodestar traveling from Porto Alegre to São Borja in poor weather struck a hill near São Francisco de Assis. All ten occupants died, including co-founder Gustavo Kraemer, who was also the pilot, and Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, a senator and former first Minister of Air Force in Brazil. SAVAG ended its independent operations on January 1, 1966, when Cruzeiro do Sul bought and merged the company. Its historical importance lies in its role as a regional connector in southern Brazil and in its links to the development of local aviation infrastructure. Bagé International Airport was named after Gustavo Kraemer in 1953. Porto Alegre’s airport was later named Salgado Filho in honor of Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, who died in the 1950 SAVAG accident.
- 1966
Absorption by Cruzeiro do Sul
[1]SAVAG was bought and merged into Cruzeiro do Sul on January 1, ending its independent operations.
- 1960
Regional network reaches three southern states
[1]SAVAG’s listed destinations included cities across Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná.
- 1953
Bagé airport named for Gustavo Kraemer
[1]Bagé International Airport was named in honor of SAVAG co-founder Gustavo Kraemer.
- 1950
Fatal São Francisco de Assis accident
[1]A SAVAG Lodestar struck a hill near São Francisco de Assis in poor weather, killing all ten occupants, including Gustavo Kraemer and Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho.
- 1949
Fatal Pelotas accident
[1]A SAVAG Lodestar crashed shortly after takeoff from Pelotas, killing all eight occupants.
- 1948
Network expands northward
[1]The airline extended its services toward northern areas of Rio Grande do Sul.
- 1947
Scheduled services begin
[1]SAVAG acquired three Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars from Panair do Brasil and began serving Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé.
- 1946
Company founded in Rio Grande
[1]Augusto Otero and Gustavo Kraemer established SAVAG on November 25 in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul.
Products and positioning
A regional airline focused on connecting cities in Rio Grande do Sul and neighboring southern Brazilian states.
Regional passenger aviation · 1947
Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar services
SAVAG’s first operating fleet consisted of three Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars acquired from Panair do Brasil in 1947. These aircraft supported the airline’s early scheduled services between Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, Bagé, and other destinations in southern Brazil.
Regional passenger aviation
Douglas DC-3 services
SAVAG later acquired two Douglas DC-3 aircraft from Cruzeiro do Sul. The aircraft formed part of the company’s later regional operation and were associated with its operational partnership with Cruzeiro do Sul.
Scheduled domestic air transport · 1947
Southern Brazil route network
At its greatest documented extent, SAVAG connected regional cities in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. Destinations included Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, Bagé, Alegrete, Passo Fundo, Erechim, Uruguaiana, Cascavel, Joaçaba, and Toledo.
Brand decisions
1966
Merge into Cruzeiro do SulM&ABackground
SAVAG faced intense competition from Varig and had progressively lost route concessions. It had also maintained an operational relationship with Cruzeiro do Sul.
Action taken
Cruzeiro do Sul bought and absorbed SAVAG on January 1, 1966.
Aftermath
SAVAG ceased to operate as an independent airline.
Recent events
- 1966
SAVAG is absorbed by Cruzeiro do Sul[1]
M&A
On January 1, SAVAG was bought and merged into Cruzeiro do Sul, ending its existence as an independent airline.
- 1950
SAVAG Lodestar crashes near São Francisco de Assis[1]
Other
On July 30, a Lodestar flying from Porto Alegre to São Borja in bad weather struck a hill and caught fire. All ten occupants died, including co-founder Gustavo Kraemer and senator Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho.
- 1949
SAVAG Lodestar crashes after takeoff from Pelotas[1]
Other
On January 11, a Lockheed Model 18-10-01 Lodestar registered PP-SAC crashed shortly after departing Pelotas for Porto Alegre. All eight occupants died; fuel contamination was identified as the likely cause.
- 1947
SAVAG begins operations with Lockheed Lodestar aircraft[1]
Product launch
The airline acquired three Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars from Panair do Brasil and began scheduled services among Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé.
- 1946
SAVAG is founded in Rio Grande[3]
Other
Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha was established on November 25, 1946, with authority to operate within Rio Grande do Sul.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/savag-sociedade-anônima-viação-aérea-gaúcha · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled