US Airways has applied to begin flights from Charlotte to Rio de Janeiro later this year. They have a good chance of being awarded the route as well.

The U.S.-Brazil bilateral aviation agreement is fairly limited, with meaningful restrictions on the number of flights between the U.S. and Brazil. That makes the availability of new frequencies a significant event. And there are 14 additional flights a week that are up for grabs, seven each to begin in June and October. There’s an important restriction though – Brazil’s top market, Sao Paulo, is effectively off the table for these awards. (Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s number two market; its airport code is GIG)

Proposals are due to the DOT today, and all are for Rio de Janeiro:
US Airways seven flights per week (daily) from CLT
Continental seven flights per week (daily) from Houston.
Delta seven flights per week (daily) from Atlanta
American three weekly flights from JFK.

US Airways and Continental are probably the favorites. US Airways doesn’t currently fly to Brazil; the DOT likes making awards to new entrants. CO only has a single flight a day split between Sao Paulo and Rio; this would allow them serve both daily.

Delta already flies ATL-GIG daily; their application essentially allows them to shift their existing non-destination restricted frequencies to more Sao Paulo flights from someplace like ATL or LAX. Also, Delta only wants to begin flights in December, which is a drawback.

American is only requesting three frequencies. They already serves JFK-GIG three or four times a week and also fly Miami — Rio twice a day and otherwise have a ton of U.S. — Brazil route authorities (though with a hub in Miami that’s to be expected).