The codeshare partnership has been filed to ANAC – Brazilian Federal Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil).
The first flights will be approved in the coming days and the partnership is expected to come into effect by the end of October/early November timeframe.
The new codeshare partnership will give customers the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one reservation, and a seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage check experience during the entire journey.
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.
“We’re pleased to be enhancing our partnership with GOL and believe our new codeshare will bring enhanced connectivity and a fully integrated loyalty programme within Brazil initially , and at a later stage, throughout South America and the Caribbean,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West.
“GOL‘s extensive route network in Latin America combined with the choice and convenience of offering customers approximately 800 flights per day, perfectly complements our 14 weekly flights to and from Brazil that connect to our global network.
"We have invested in a partnership that provides ever-increasing benefits to our customers.
The expansion of the partnership with Emirates is precisely this, and it will also strengthen our presence in international markets,” said Ciro Camargo, head of alliances at GOL.
Redeeming Miles for Reward Travel
As part of the new codeshare partnership, 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 this codeshare partnership.
Miles accrued will be based on the distance travelled with bonuses for class of service.
“The partnership with Emirates, the largest international airline company in the world, will broaden our seat availability to Asia, among other destinations, and will be an exclusive competitive advantage for Smiles in Brazil,” states Leonel Andrade, Smiles’ CEO.
“The improvement in international airline partnerships further strengthens our position as an industry leading programme for travellers.”
Skywards members flying in GOL Premium Economy will earn a mileage bonus of 125 percent or 150 percent of actual miles flown depending on the fare.
Smiles members flying on Emirates will earn a mileage bonus of 150 percent of actual miles flown when flying in First Flex Plus and First Flex and a bonus of 125 percent in Business Flex and Business Saver.
Greater Connection Choice Across the Combined Network
With a combined total of 14 flights a week departing from Dubai to Sao Paulo and Rio, the enhanced 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, then an additional 10 destinations in South America will benefit from enhanced connectivity.
Likewise, GOL passengers connecting to an Emirates flight in Sao Paulo or Rio now have a wide range of global travel destinations conveniently available to them in the Middle East, India, Africa, the Far East and beyond via our home and hub in Dubai.
The Emirates Experience
All Emirates’ passengers will experience award-winning service and innovation, both on board and on the ground.
All passengers will have access to Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system offering more than 2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment at every seat, gourmet regionally inspired dishes, world-class wines, and dedicated children’s entertainment and menus.
Passengers will also experience Emirates unmatched inflight service from a multilingual Cabin Crew representing over 135 nationalities and more than 60 languages.
First Class and Business Class passengers can travel to and from the airport with the convenience of Emirates’ complimentary Chauffeur-drive service in Dubai (DXB) and many other airports across Emirates extensive network.
Discover Dubai
Those travelling to Dubai for a stopover or as their final destination will find a plethora of activities to experience.
Known as a city of contrasts, from futuristic architecture to vibrant traditional culture and diversity, Dubai is a place that caters to all types of travellers.
The city offers everything a visitor could want, from shopping at some of the largest malls in the region to dining options which will spoil anyone for choice, a trip to Dubai is a must for families, friends and individuals.
Adventurers can enjoy kite surfing in the gulf, skydiving over the Palm Jumeirah Island or head out to the desert for sand surfing and dune buggie rides.
Families can enjoy Dubai’s family-friendly hotels and the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, home to thousands of sea creatures, or cool down at Dubai’s waterparks, hit the ski slopes at the Mall of the Emirates or splash around at Kite Beach.
For fashionistas, the souks and malls offer local gems you won’t find anywhere else in the world, such as the Deira Gold Souk, home to hundreds of specialty jewelry stores, or the Mall of Dubai, one of the world’s largest malls featuring more than 1,200 stores and services.
The city also offers visitors several new and exciting experiences, such as the recently-opened IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor themed entertainment destination, and the soon-to-be-opened Dubai Parks and Resorts, which will offer a range of attractions and experiences
All travellers can take in the sights of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, the Dubai Fountain which dances to a set of music for onlookers, and of course, experience desert camel rides and dinner under the stars at a Bedouin style camp.
Dubai truly offers a variety of attractions to meet the tastes of business and leisure travellers alike.
About Emirates
Founded in 1985, Emirates is a global connector of people, places and economies.
Based in Dubai, the airline’s global network serves 154 destinations in 82 countries across six continents.
Its luxurious amenities, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine, award-winning in-flight entertainment system – ice – and unmatched hospitality provided by its iconic multilingual Cabin Crew have made Emirates one of the world’s most recognized airline brands.
Emirates commenced flights to Sao Paulo (GRU) on 1st October 2007 and on 3rd January 2012 to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and today provides daily service to both cities.
Sao Paulo is operated with a 777-300 ER, while GIG is served by a 777-200 LR.
Follow @Emirates on Instagram and Twitter and find us on Facebook and LinkedIn
About Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards, the award-winning frequent flyer program of Emirates, offers four tiers of membership - Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum - with each membership tier providing exclusive privileges.
Emirates Skywards members earn Skywards Miles when they fly on Emirates or partner airlines, or when they use the program’s designated hotels, car rentals, financial, leisure and lifestyle partners.
Skywards Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including tickets on Emirates and other Emirates Skywards partner airlines, flight upgrades, hotel accommodation, excursions and exclusive shopping.
Visit Emirates Skywards online at: www.emirates.com/skywards
About GOL
In 15 years of history, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes helped build links, bringing people closer and reducing distances with safety and intelligence.
The company played an important role in the democratization of air travel in Brazil, contributing to enable approximately 17 million people to fly for the first time, becoming the largest low-cost and best-fare airline in Latin America.
GOL is also the leading company in terms of on-time performance and number of passengers carried in the domestic market, both in the leisure and corporate segments - according to Infraero.
GOL has the highest supply of seats with ANAC's "A" seal, providing even more comfort in its 800 daily flights to 63 domestic and international destinations in South America and the Caribbean.
The company maintains strategic alliances with three major global partners:
Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM, allowing it to offer twelve codeshare and more than 70 interline agreements, bringing more convenience and facilitating connections to any destination of these alliances.
About Smiles
Smiles is one of Brazil's largest coalition loyalty programme.
With over 20 years’ experience, it currently has more than 11 million members.
It is a multi-loyalty program for a wide range of companies, including GOL Linhas Aéreas, its biggest commercial partner and the airline with the largest number of flights connecting Brazil's busiest airports.
Customers can earn Smiles air miles through a number of partner airlines, including Emirates, which together fly to over 160 countries and 800 global destinations.
The program has been increasing the number of partners through which clients can earn and redeem air miles.
Today Smiles partners with Brazil and Latin America's largest commercial banks, credit card administrators, major retail chains, hotels, restaurants, car rental companies, gas stations, pharmacies, publishing companies, etc, to ensure Smiles programme members have a wide range of options to earn air miles, allowing them to accumulate air miles not only through partner airlines but also everyday activities.
Photo caption : Press Briefing in Sao Paulo 11th Oct Announcing Codeshare Partnership. From left to right: Ciro Camargo, Head of Alliances at GOL; Emirates Cabin Crew; Stephane Perard, Emirates Country Manager for Brazil; and Carlos Mauad, Commercial Director at Smiles.