Emirates codeshares with GOL

DUBAI Emirates and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes have announced a new codeshare and frequent flyer programme partnership.

The codeshare partnership has been filed with ANAC – Brazilian Federal Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) for ratificatioin.

The first flights will be approved in the coming days and the partnership is expected to come into effect by the end of this month or early November.

The new codeshare  will offer customers connecting flights on both airlines using a single reservation and ticketing, check-in and baggage check.

Passengers booking flights from multiple destinations in Brazil with GOL, including Porte Alegre, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Brasilia, will be able to connect in Sao Paulo or Rio and fly with Emirates to many destinations worldwide.

“Our partnership with GOL will enhance connectivity and a fully integrated loyalty programme in Brazil initially and at a later stage, throughout South America and the Caribbean,” said Emirates West divisional senior vice resident, commercial operations, Hubert Frach.

Members of Emirates Skywards and GOL’s Smiles loyalty programme will be able to accrue and redeem miles on both airlines. With over 16 million Emirates Skywards members and over 11 million members of GOL’s Smiles loyalty programme, nearly 30 million members worldwide will benefit from the codeshare partnership.

Skywards members flying in GOL premium economy will earn a mileage bonus of 125% or 150% of actual miles flown depending on the fare.

Smiles members flying on Emirates will earn a mileage bonus of 150% of actual miles flown when flying in First Flex Plus and First Flex and a bonus of 125% in Business Flex and Business Saver.

With a combined total of 14 flights a week departing from Dubai to Sao Paulo and Rio, the codeshare agreement gives Emirates passengers easy connections to over 20 destinations on GOL’s extensive route network in Brazil, including Porto Alegre, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Iguassu Falls, Brasilia, and Florianopolis.

Once the full codeshare partnership comes into effect, an additional 10 destinations in South America will benefit from connectivity. Likewise, GOL passengers connecting to an Emirates flight in Sao Paulo or Rio now have a wide range of global travel destinations available to them in the Middle East, India, Africa and Asia served from the Dubai hub.

Emirates commenced flights to Sao Paulo (GRU) 1 October 2007 and to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) 3 January, 2012. Today it has daily service to both cities using Boeing 777s.