MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

American Airlines and Gol negotiating a partnership to counter Delta/Latam deal

AA and Gol are also talking with other airlines about potential partnerships, the newspaper said, without elaborating

American Airlines Group Inc and Brazil's Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA are negotiating a “partnership” that could “integrate flights between the two airlines in Latin America,” a newspaper reported on Friday.

The report in Brazil's Valor Economico, which cited sources familiar with the matter, said the two companies entered into contact in September, on the same day that Delta Air Lines Inc bought a stake in Gol competitor Latam Airlines Group SA .

The firms are also talking with other airlines about potential partnerships, the newspaper said, without elaborating. The paper added the structure or content of any potential partnership was unclear.

Gol and American did not immediately respond to a request for comment but American told Valor that it is “always talking with partners,” according to the newspaper. Gol declined to comment to Valor.

In September, Delta announced a surprise deal with Latam to purchase a minority stake in the Chile-based airline for US$1.9 billion. Delta subsequently sold its minority stake in Gol, and Latam and American severed a pre-existing alliance.