GOL, Latin America’s largest low cost and low fare airline, Air France and KLM, as a global leader in air transport, extended on January 12th their joint offer in Brazil thanks to new code-share flights operated by GOL.
Air France customers have now access to flights operated by GOL departing from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo international airports to six domestic destinations in Brazil: Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Salvador and Vitória. Connecting flights are offered at the same airport. Seven other destinations will be added soon*. With this code-share agreement, Air France offers its passengers travelling from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia more destinations and more connecting opportunities to Brazil.
KLM and GOL also signed a code-share agreement, aiming at offering the Dutch airline domestic and regional flights as well as flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina*, operated by GOL departing from Guarulhos international airport.
GOL will benefit from global Air France and KLM sales channels, improving the number of passengers and the load factor on flights operated by the Brazilian airline.
Brazil represents a key market for the Group, together Air France and KLM currently operate 31 flights per week from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Christian Herzog, Americas Senior Vice President Air France KLM says: “This growing partnership with GOL demonstrates once again our willingness to develop our position in Brazil. It offers our customers travelling to and from Brazil a larger choice of destinations and schedules, which reflects our group’s strategy: to ensure the best possible services between Europe and the rest of the world”.
Pieter Elbers, Senior Vice President Network and Alliances KLM says that Air France and KLM offer excellent services between Brazil, South America’s largest economic power and tourist destination, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle & Amsterdam-Schiphol, and the rest of Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia. “By developing our network and airline partnerships, we will also be able to cope better with the economic crisis.”
The three airlines have already implemented the integration agreement of their frequent flyer programmes. Thanks to this partnership, over 6.5 million members of the GOL frequent flyer programme SMILES and the 15 million AIR FRANCE-KLM Flying Blue members, are already earning miles and having access to award tickets on the networks of the three airlines. Together, the three airlines offer 3,300 daily flights to around 300 destinations in 114 countries, with complementary networks.
About GOL
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, offers around 800 daily flights to 50 destinations that connect all the important cities in Brazil and ten major destinations in South America and Caribbean. The Company operates a young, modern fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, the safest and most comfortable of its class, with high aircraft utilization and efficiency levels. Fully committed to seeking innovative solutions through the use of cutting-edge technology, the Company – via its GOL, VARIG, GOLLOG, SMILES and VOE FÁCIL brands – offers its clients easy payment facilities, a wide range of complementary services and the best cost-benefit ratio in the market.
About AIR FRANCE KLM
The AIR FRANCE KLM Group was set up in 2004 and comprises a holding company and two airlines that have retained their separate brands and identities. Together, AIR FRANCE and KLM serve an extensive global network structured around their hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol. Currently, the group has a workforce of over 110,000, carries 74.5 million passengers annually to 244 destinations worldwide, and operates a fleet of over 600 aircraft. This reflects its newfound position as the global market leader in terms of revenues, with total revenue of 23.97 billion euros in 2008/2009. AIR FRANCE and KLM are members of the SkyTeam Alliance, whose services span the world. AIR FRANCE was founded in 1933, KLM in 1919.