Brazilian carrier Gol will begin flying between Rio de Janeiro and New York JFK on July 8.
The three-times-weekly route will be the airline's first with widebody aircraft. Its introduction will be facilitated by the decision of Gol owner Abra Group to place up to five Airbus A330-900 aircraft with Gol. Abra also owns Colombia-based Avianca Airlines.
Gol currently flies four combined U.S. routes to Miami and Orlando and will offer two other Florida routes weekly during the peak summer period. However, Rio-JFK will be its first flight to New York and its first U.S. flight from Rio.
The airline, in which American Airlines is a minority investor, will configure its A330-900 with at least 290 seats, Abra Group said, including a business-class cabin.
American and Delta also fly between Rio de Janeiro and JFK.
Correction: United doesn't fly between Rio de Janeiro and New York JFK.