GOL Airlines

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Twenty months after Delta Air Lines and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes announced their enhanced, long-term, exclusive alliance, the companies highlight the milestones achieved.

Delta and GOL leveraged the strengths of both carriers to create additional value by establishing a seamless customer experience.

The Delta and GOL commercial team accomplished its immediate objectives: (1) expand the codeshare agreement; (2) provide additional benefits to the airlines' loyal customers; and (3) offer a consistent experience at airports.

Codeshare Agreement

"Our strategic partnership with GOL greatly enhances Delta's network, providing access to 23 destinations in Brazil," said Ed Bastian, Delta's president and member of GOL's Board of Directors. "The codeshare will continue to expand pending regulatory approvals. Delta and GOL offer a U.S.-Brazil network unrivaled by any other U.S. flag carrier."

Currently GOL has the ability to offer its customers access to the 5 markets Delta serves between the U.S. and Brazil which are: Brasilia - Atlanta, Rio de Janeiro - Atlanta; and between Sao Paulo and Atlanta, Detroit and New York JFK. Additionally, GOL's customers from the following local markets currently have access to Atlanta and will soon have access to Detroit and JFK:

Belo Horizonte
Curitiba
Goiana
Porto Alegre
The Delta-GOL codeshare agreement provides Delta customers access beyond Brazil as well, including connections to Asuncion, Paraguay and Montevideo, Uruguay.

"We are achieving our goals and this is just the beginning," said Paulo S. Kakinoff, GOL's Chief Executive Officer. "The alliance has driven significant growth in traffic, with 28 percent of all Delta customers that travel to Brazil continuing on their journey with GOL. This represents an increase of nearly 100 percent more traffic year-over-year."

As of July, GOL started to offer Delta flights on GOL's website, voegol.com, Voe GOL stores, GOL's call center and travel agents. The alliance benefits commercial customers with joint contract agreement to serve corporate customers allowing them to have a single contract for service on both carriers.

Furthermore, the airlines have initiated a joint marketing campaign to promote GOL's ability to sell Delta on their channels. As part of the joint branding efforts, customers traveling with GOL will now see the Delta logo and the phrase "in partnership with Delta" illustrated close to the boarding door of the GOL airplanes. All GOL planes will soon carry the Delta brand.

Brazil is expected to become the fourth-largest aviation market in the world by 2014, with more than 100 million passengers. The FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016 will spotlight Brazil across the world.

Airport Co-location and Customer Experience

One of the additional milestones of the alliance is the co-location of the airlines. In April, Delta moved from Terminal 1, A Wing to Terminal 2 C Wing of the Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. For GOL and Delta customers co-location increases ease of connectivity and facilitates the process of re-checking bags after clearing customs since gol counters are located immediately after leaving the secured customs area.

"We want to offer our customers a premium check-in area, improved signage to enhance customer experience and an enhanced VIP lounge," Kakinoff said. "GOL has a significant presence in Brazil's main airports and together with Delta we will continue to provide customers a seamless experience."

Following the formalisation of its papers with the Nigerian government, Sao Paulo based low cost Brazilian airline-GOL is to begin flight operations between Lagos and Sao Paulo.

An official of the carrier who spoke to The Guardian in Lagos on Tuesday disclosed that the Ministry of Aviation and all other relevant agencies had given their approval.

The carrier operates state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft with a new and modern fleet, GOL’s operations are differentiated by reduced maintenance costs and low fuel consumption, which translates into high use and efficiency rates for the company.

It would be recalled that GOL purchased VARIG in 2007 and for eleven years, GOL has been driving the Brazilian aviation market to develop, always presenting innovative and pioneering products, services and processes. The firm has made air travel in Brazil and in South America affordable.

The airline currently offers extensive and convenient route network in South America and the Caribbean, with almost 950 flights a day to over 63 destinations, domestic and international, in 14 countries.

Combined with operational partnerships with foreign and domestic companies, GOL’s route network is among the best for clients that want to travel to Brazil, within Brazil, or from Brazil.

GOL can offer such efficient services because it has a business model based on structures, systems and controls that enhance the quality, high technology, safety and standardization of its fleet, as well as the motivation and productivity of its team. With a constant focus on reducing costs, the company’s strategy is defined by profitable growth through a low-cost and high quality structure for providing service to clients.

In accordance with its corporate objectives, GOL once again revolutionsed Brazilian aviation when it acquired VRG Linhas Aéreas, operating the VARIG brand, on March 28, 2007. The acquisition was one of the most important steps in GOL’s history, allowing it to expand its market coverage and operating capacity.