Dubai’s leading international airline Emirates and Brazil-based GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes have announced a new codeshare and frequent flyer programme partnership.

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, a statement said.

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.

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,” said 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.

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. – TradeArabia News Service