American Airlines and GOL Complete Agreement to Form Exclusive Partnership

(09 Feb 2022)  American Airlines has signed a definitive investment agreement with GOL, Brazil’s largest airline.

The combined networks will provide customers with more than 30 destinations in the U.S. served by American and more than 34 new destinations in South America served by GOL.

American has served Latin America since 1942 and offers service to 17 destinations in South America, including Sao Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) in Brazil, from its U.S. hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA) and New York (JFK). The airline has flown more than 14 million customers between the U.S. and Brazil in the last 10 years.

American Airlines Boeing 777 reg: N735AT. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

GOL serves 63 destinations in Brazil.

As part of the investment agreement previously announced last year, American will invest $200 million in 22.2 million newly issued preferred shares of GOL in a capital increase, for a 5.2% participation in the company’s economic interest.

GOL’s SMILES and American’s AAdvantage loyalty members are expected to this year gain access to their status benefits on both airlines, such as priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, a larger checked baggage allowance, lounge access and preferred seats. The two airlines also expect to offer an enhanced joint loyalty offering to give customers more ways to earn and redeem miles.

The deal is subject to certain conditions, including government and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.