Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas will launch its first-ever long-haul route on July 8, 2026, connecting Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG) with New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The service operates three times weekly—outbound on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 23:00 from Rio, with return flights departing JFK on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 21:55 local time.
The route will initially be operated with Airbus A330-200 aircraft on a wet-lease arrangement from Spanish carrier Wamos Air. GOL has ordered five Airbus A330-900neos through its parent company Abra Group, and the airline plans to transition to its own widebody fleet as deliveries begin later in 2026, according to Simple Flying.
The service is scheduled to operate through October 22, 2026, per GOL's booking engine. It marks a major strategic shift for a carrier that has historically focused on domestic and short/medium-haul routes across South America. The route was developed in partnership with the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and supports Abra Group's broader strategy of positioning Galeão as an international hub, according to GOL's official press release.
GOL will briefly be the only carrier offering nonstop GIG–JFK service when it launches, as American Airlines and Delta's seasonal operations have wrapped. The new route also includes a business class product branded INSIGNIA, with fully lie-flat seats, according to the airline's website. Aviation Week's July route roundup called the launch "one of the most eye-catching route launches in July."
Sources
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brazilian-airline-gol-announces-direct-rio-new-york-route-expanding-international-operations-302707277.html
- https://simpleflying.com/rio-new-york-gol-first-ever-long-haul-flights-summer
- https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/50-new-routes-launching-july-2026
- https://www.voegol.com.br/en-us/flights-from-new-york-to-rio-de-janeiro
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