Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes announced new direct flights to Lisbon, Portugal, and Paris, France. This is the first time since its founding in 2001 that GOL has launched direct flights to Europe.
Brazil’s GOL
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes is a major Brazilian hybrid low-cost airline that was founded in 2001. It is headquartered in São Paulo and operates primarily with a Boeing 737 fleet. The airline serves over 80 domestic and international destinations and has transported over 200 million customers. It also operates around 900 flights a day.
As of 2026, GOL is expanding into long-haul international flights using Airbus A330 aircraft, with routes planned from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon, Paris, and New York. GOL seeks to assert itself as an intercontinental airline, expanding operations to more destinations in the U.S. and Europe.
Direct Flights from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon and Paris
Details of the connections to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris have not yet been released by the company, but the plan is to start service in July 2026. The flights to Lisbon and Paris will be operated on Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The five A330-900neo aircraft recently acquired by the company will enable international expansion.
Flights to Lisbon are scheduled to start on Sept. 16, with a frequency of four return flights a week. The addition of GOL-operated nonstop flights from Rio to both cities would expand capacity and introduce fresh competitive dynamics in these high-demand leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives markets.
GOL CEO, Celso Ferrer, stated:
“We believe in Gol. We like the model. We believe the market is going to be there for us.”
These new direct flights will also help to reshape Brazil’s tourism flows, boost Rio’s hub ambitions and widen access for European travellers.
Are you flying with GOL to any of these destinations? Let us know in the comments below!
