Delta Starts Codeshare Flights with Brazil's GOL

Customers immediately gain access to 15 new Brazilian destinations

News provided by

Feb 07, 2011, 11:30 ET

ATLANTA and SAO PAULO, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced the start of codeshare service with GOL one of Brazil's largest airlines, immediately adding 15 new destinations to its South American network.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101123/CL04792LOGO )

Delta is now selling service on 56 GOL flights between Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia and 15 Brazilian destinations: Belem, Belo Horizonte, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Goiania, Iguassu Falls, Joao Pessoa, Navegantes, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Teresina and Vitoria. The number of codeshare markets is expected to increase to more than 30 by summer, pending government approvals.

"Delta continues to grow its network in Latin America thanks to strong and visionary partners like GOL, allowing our customers to enjoy a seamless travel experience and an expanded network throughout Brazil," said Nicolas Ferri, Delta's vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Delta currently offers 31 nonstop weekly flights between the United States and Brazil, including service between Atlanta and Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia; between New York-JFK and Sao Paulo; and between Detroit and Sao Paulo.

Last year, the airlines announced the start of a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement that allows customers from Delta's SkyMiles and GOL's SMILES programs to earn and redeem miles for flights.

Delta's growth strategy in the Latin America region is also enhanced by the intent to bring Aerolineas Argentinas, the flag carrier of Argentina, as the second Latin American member of Delta's SkyTeam global airline alliance, benefiting Delta customers with increased access to and from South America and complementing existing SkyTeam member Aeromexico.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 357 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.