Air France-KLM, GOL-Varig sign cooperation and code-sharing agreement

Air France KLM and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., which comprises the GOL and VARIG brands, have signed a commercial cooperation agreement which will enable the 15 million customers who are members of AIR FRANCE and KLM’s “Flying Blue” and GOL’s 6 million “Smiles” frequent flyer programmes to have access to new Frequent Flyers benefits and destinations.

Beginning May 1, Flying Blue members can earn Miles on all GOL and Varig flights and Smiles cardholders can earn Miles on Air France and KLM’s networks. From July 1, all Flying Blue and Smiles members be able to use their miles as award tickets on all three airlines (Air France, KLM, GOL/Varig). Also from May 1 to July 31 2009, Flying Blue cardholders will earn double miles on all GOL/VARIG flights and Smiles members will earn double miles when travelling on Air France and KLM flights.

The agreement has provisioned for code-sharing. By mid 2009, Air France will be adding its code to GOL flights between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and thirteen major Brazilian cities: Belem, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Campinas, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Iguassu Falls, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Vitoria. More cities could be added later. A similar agreement is being prepared between KLM and GOL.