Rival airlines are already discussing how to share out Varig's routes

The move came just a day after a bankruptcy judge agreed to sell the airline to a consortium of Varig workers and two foreign investors.

This saved Varig from immediate liquidation, but the consortium must now find $75m (�40m) by Friday.

The judge has warned that without this first payment the buyout will fail.

The NV Participacoes, which represents Varig workers and two foreign investors, has agreed to pay $449m for the struggling airline.

Reports in the Brazilian media say it is appealing to Brazil's National Development Bank for a loan to cover the first deposit required for the sale.

Brazil's national airport authority has said it will begin demanding that Varig pays its airport fees every day, in cash.

The news came as the country's civil aviation authorities met other airlines to divide up Varig's routes should it cease to fly.

Increased competition

Varig has been under bankruptcy protection for a year.

It was the top airline in Brazil until 2004, but was then overtaken by TAM and later by Gol.

The airline has suffered years of financial problems because of rising costs and growing low-cost competition.