Gol Linhas Aéreas and the Air France-KLM group announced on Thursday a new agreement that will extend and expand the strategic partnership between them for the next 10 years.
Among the terms agreed are mutual exclusivity on the Europe-Brazil route, in addition to improving commercial cooperation.
The partnership between the two companies began in 2014, initially expected to last five years, but in 2019 the agreement was renewed. Currently, one in five passengers arriving in Brazil via Air France-KLM connects to a destination operated by Gol.
According to the two companies, customers will benefit from a network that includes more than 80 European destinations and 45 in Brazil. The partnerships also foresee expanding cooperation to new destinations throughout Latin America.
In addition to passenger services, Gol and Air France-KLM will also expand joint work in maintenance, with overhauls of the CFM-56 and Leap engines of the Brazilian company’s Boeing 737 by the European group.
“Our partnership with Air France-KLM has provided countless enhancements and benefits for all of our customers and is based on reciprocal trust and admiration of both companies. We are proud to celebrate another decade of partnership, and I believe it crowns a long and successful history by including key elements such as the credit line for engine overhauls. I reinforce that GOL is deeply committed to support and help to strengthen the Brazil-Europe corridor, and we have no doubt Air France-KLM is the best partner to achieve that,” said Celso Ferrer, CEO of Gol.
“South America, and particularly Brazil, is one of the most strategic markets for Air France-KLM. The historical partnership between Air France-KLM and GOL has been instrumental in allowing us to provide our customers with a comprehensive and broad value proposition in the region. Building on what we’ve already achieved, we are very pleased to extend and deepen this exclusive partnership for 10 more years. This new agreement will allow us to implement the necessary structural enhancements to ensure Air France-KLM and GOL’s leadership position between Brazil and Europe,” said Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France KLM.
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Air France and KLM passengers connect on Gol flights from São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Fortaleza (FOR) while Gol customers are served by European airlines from their hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol airports.
During high season, Air France has 24 weekly flights to Brazil (14 to São Paulo, 7 to Rio de Janeiro and 3 to Fortaleza), and KLM operates 14 weekly flights to Brazil (7 to São Paulo and 7 to Rio de Janeiro).
