GOL and Iberia sign code-share agreement
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (Bovespa: GOLL4 and NYSE: GOL), the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, and Iberia, Spain’s largest air transport group, announced today that the companies have signed a code-share agreement. The companies are also evaluating the possibility of linking their frequent flyer programs, GOL’s SMILES and Iberia’s Plus.
Under the code-share agreement, Iberia can add its IATA code to GOL flights from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to 13 Brazilian destinations: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Foz do Iguacu, Goiania, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Vitoria. Iberia passengers will benefit from more flight connection options throughout Brazil, while the agreement provides an additional sales channel for GOL, increasing passenger traffic and load factor for the Brazilian carrier.
Headquartered in Madrid, Iberia offers two direct daily flights between Spain’s capital and Sao Paulo (Guarulhos Airport) as well as one direct daily flight to Rio de Janeiro (Galeao Airport), operating Airbus A340-600 and A340-300 aircraft. Iberia is Spain’s largest air carrier group and the fourth-largest in Europe. It is also the leading airline of Europe and Latin America routes, with the most flight options and destinations.
In compliance with standard regulation requirements, GOL will submit the contract to the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), the Brazilian aviation authority, and to the Brazilian Antitrust Agency (Cade), the antitrust counsel, for their evaluation before implementing the agreement.