American Airlines teamed with Brazil’s largest airline, GOL, to offer customers new access to 20 destinations in South America. Additionally, American Airlines plans to increase service to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) from Miami (MIA), with second daily flights later in the year. American Airlines also plans to add flights to Miami from Nashville (BNA), Boston (BOS), Houston (IAH), Orlando (MCO), Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Tampa (TPA), for travelers seeking a connection to Latin American destinations.

“We are proud of our strong presence in Latin America, which includes 170 daily flights to the region, Admirals Club lounges and dedicated Premium Guest Services teams in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo,” said Robert Isom, president, American Airlines.

The codeshare agreement provides American Airlines travelers access to 53 GOL flights beyond Rio de Janeiro, with service to destinations including Sao Paulo (GRU), Brasilia (BSB), Manaus (MAO) and Fortaleza (FOR).

“We have a long and rich history in South America, and this new relationship with GOL further enhances our presence in the region,” said Vasu Raja, senior vice president of network strategy, American Airlines. “Our customers will continue to have access to places they’ve always loved to travel to on American like Rio, Sao Paulo and Brasilia, and will gain access to new destinations on their wish list. We’ll continue to evaluate our network and seek strategic partnerships that benefit our customers and enhance our network.”

“As two of the leading airlines in Brazil and the United States, GOL and American Airlines will offer the best experience for customers on the largest number of flights and destinations in the Americas,” said Paulo Kakinoff, CEO, GOL. “This will strengthen GOL’s presence in international markets and accelerate our long-term growth.”