NAB was founded on January 28, 1938. The founder Paulo Venâncio da Rocha Vianna initially invested heavily in technical training for both land and air staff conducted particularly by TWA. Thus in the beginning NAB followed what was most modern in terms of aviation technology and administration at its time. Its first aircraft arrived in 1941 and operated between Rio de Janeiro and Recife via Belo Horizonte, Bom Jesus da Lapa and Petrolina. In order to operate the route NAB invested in upgrading the airport facilities of Bom Jesus da Lapa and Petrolina.[1]
Because of financial difficulties, the Brazilian government granted three successive subventions, which were used to enlarge the fleet and extend the network.
The end of World War II brought a boom in the creation of new airlines in Brazil and due to fierce competition, in order to survive, NAB was granted further two loans.
In March 1948 all services were suspended and NAB was closed on August 17, 1948. This was however not the end: the Federal Government decided to take over NAB and continue services in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Thus the airline continued its struggle for survival.[2]
In 1957 the entrepreneur Dilvo Peres decided to invest in the airline, re-organizing its administration, buying new aircraft, and establishing an operational partnership with Panair do Brasil. The efforts were not successful and in a last attempt to survive, NAB started selling greatly discounted tickets and in-flight service was reduced to a minimum.
^Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (1991). História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: da criação do Ministério da Aeronáutica ao final da Segunda Guerra Mundial (in Portuguese). Vol. 3. Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro: Villa Rica Editoras Reunidas. p. 304.
^Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (2005). História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: de janeiro de 1946 a janeiro de 1956 após o término da Segunda Guerra Mundial até a posse do Dr. Juscelino Kubitschek como Presidente da República (in Portuguese). Vol. 4. Rio de Janeiro: GR3 Comunicação & Design. pp. 345–346.
^Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. pp. 279–281.
^Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica (1991). História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: da criação do Ministério da Aeronáutica ao final da Segunda Guerra Mundial (in Portuguese). Vol. 3. Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro: Villa Rica Editoras Reunidas. p. 305.
^Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. p. 280.
^Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa. pp. 281–282.
