TAAG Angola Airlines and GOL have signed a codeshare agreement to promote air travel between South America, Africa, and Europe via Brazil and Angola. TAAG's flight code will be available in 13 of GOL's domestic destinations, including Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG) and Brasília International Airport (BSB). TAAG will also have the option to connect passengers to regional geographies operated by GOL on an interline basis.
GOL will put its flight code on TAAG's São Paulo-Luanda-São Paulo route, making it possible to offer destinations in Africa and Europe, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Windhoek, Maputo, Lisbon, and Madrid.
This codeshare will connect Africans to South American destinations and will benefit both airlines.
Overall, passengers of both airlines will be able to acquire long-haul tickets using local currency and regular points of sale.
Excited to partner with an African carrier, Eduardo Bernardes, Vice President of Revenue, GOL said: “Building this alliance with TAAG is the best way to expand our destinations to dozens of African cities and an opportunity to offer customers the experience to discover a continent so rich in natural beauty. We are now able to connect our domestic bases, and, from Guarulhos, São Paulo, connect with Luanda, Angola, a country with so many similarities with Brazil.”
Eduardo Fairen, CEO, TAAG said: “The partnership between TAAG and GOL opens multiple opportunities for tourism and economic synergies in both countries, as we are enthusiastic about this major connection that bridges Latin America, Africa, and Europe via Brazil (São Paulo) and Angola (Luanda) transatlantic link. Both families and the corporate segments will benefit from more destinations and greater agility in intercontinental travels.”
TAAG Angola currently operates five weekly flights between São Paulo and Luanda on B777-300. The strategic location of both airlines channelling the traffic between South America and Africa via their hubs at São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro (LAD) international airports will speak volumes in terms of passenger numbers in days to come.