Air France-KLM and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes have extended of their commercial partnership for another ten years, which features code sharing, joint sales and frequent flyer programmes.
The agreement ensures mutual exclusivity on routes between Europe and Brazil, intending to enhance connectivity while boosting customer service.
According to Air France-KLM, the agreement will cover 99% of the demand between Brazil and Europe. It also grants one out of every five passengers travelling to Brazil on Air France-KLM a connecting flight with GOL.
Alongside this, the partnership will offer customers an "optimised network” spanning over 80 European destinations.
GOL CEO Celso Ferrer emphasised the importance of strengthening the Brazil-Europe route: "Our partnership with Air France-KLM has provided countless improvements and benefits for all our customers over the past few years and is based on mutual trust and admiration for both companies.
“We are proud to celebrate the renewal of another decade of partnership, crowning a long and successful history that includes important elements such as the line of credit for engine maintenance.”
The partnership will offer GOL passengers access to Air France-KLM’s wider networks beyond its Paris and Amsterdam hubs. Alongside this, Air France and KLM passengers can connect on GOL flights beyond Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza.
Air France KLM CEO Benjamin Smith highlighted how this will strengthen the position of the companies in this region.
Smith said: "South America and particularly Brazil, is one of the most strategic markets for Air France-KLM. The historic partnership between Air France-KLM and GOL has been fundamental by enabling us to offer our customers a comprehensive and broad value proposition in the region.
“Building on what we have already built so far, we are delighted to extend and deepen this unique partnership for another ten years. This new agreement will allow us to implement the improvements in structural structures necessary to ensure the leadership position of Air France-KLM and GOL between Brazil and Europe."
The announcement follows Air France-KLM and GOL previously extending their agreement; it was first announced in 2014 for a five-year period, becoming up for renewal in 2019.
