Brazil’s GOL Resumes Nonstop Rio to New York on 28 March

BRAZIL · FLIGHTS

Brazilian airline GOL restarts nonstop flights from Rio de Janeiro to New York JFK on Sunday, 28 March 2027. Tickets are on sale, with three round trips a week.

GOL, a Brazilian airline, restarts its nonstop Rio de Janeiro to New York JFK flights on Sunday, 28 March 2027. The airline says the 2027 season has three round trips a week on an Airbus A330.

For a US traveler, it is a direct overnight way to reach Rio, with a flight of about 10 hours. This guide to GOL Rio to New York flights covers the schedule, booking channels, entry rules and unknowns.

What GOL Announced

GOL announced the 2027 season in a press release dated São Paulo, 14 May 2026. It said tickets for the 2027 period were already on sale.

The airline first flew the route on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, with three weekly round trips between Rio and JFK. The 2027 season repeats that pattern from Sunday, 28 March 2027.

GOL says the flights use Airbus A330 wide-body jets, which it recently added to a fleet otherwise made of Boeing 737s. The press release does not give the seat count.

Schedule and Flight Times

Flights from Rio to New York leave Galeão at 9:55 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. They land at JFK at 6:55 a.m. the next morning, GOL says.

Flights from New York to Rio leave JFK at 11:00 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They land at Galeão at 9:55 a.m. the next day.

Rio does not use daylight saving time and sits at UTC-3. New York is on daylight time from 14 March to 7 November 2027, so Rio is one hour ahead.

With that gap, the published times work out to about 10 hours in the air each way. That is a calculation from the timetable, because GOL’s release gives no flight time.

The season opens on a Sunday, and Rio departures run on Sundays. GOL does not say whether the first flight leaves Rio or New York that day.

Tickets and Fares

GOL says tickets are sold on its website and app, at GOL airport stores and through travel agencies. American Airlines channels also sell the flights, and GOL calls American a long-standing partner.

GOL sells flights 330 days before departure, and the Smiles website and app sell them too. Counting from 3 November 2026, that window reaches 29 September 2027.

A Brazilian travel site found round-trip economy fares from BRL 4,153 (US$766) on 18 May 2026. That is one site’s figure, it may not apply to every date, and current prices could not be checked.

The dollar figure uses the central bank’s PTAX rate of BRL 5.4212 per US dollar, the latest published on 30 October 2026. Fares change daily, so treat it as a guide only.

The route has INSIGNIA by GOL, a business class with fully flat beds, a 16-inch personal screen and priority check-in and boarding. GOL says the menu is by chef Felipe Bronze, with lounge access listed in New York, Orlando, Paris and Lisbon.

Smiles members at its new top tier, Magno, can upgrade to INSIGNIA on selected flights. GOL says the upgrade rules will be published later.

The 2026 Season and the Pause

GOL planned to suspend the route from late October 2026, at the northern winter schedule change. Angus Clarke, chief commercial officer of the Abra Group, said on 10 September that it would resume in summer 2027.

He said the 2027 flights would “most likely” run five times a week, more than the three in GOL’s release. Which figure applies is not yet known.

A Brazilian travel site says the 2027 schedule is filed with the civil aviation agency, ANAC, through the end of October 2027. GOL’s own release gives no end date for the season.

Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors

US citizens need a Brazilian visa, applied for online as an e-visa. An airline notice says the requirement has applied since 10 April 2025.

The notice says the e-visa is valid for 10 years for US passport holders. Two independent visa guides give a fee of US$80.90 and stays of up to 90 days per visit.

Brazil’s foreign ministry, Itamaraty, runs the visa program, and its own pages could not be opened for this guide. Confirm the fee, validity and processing time there before you buy a ticket.

The US State Department rates Brazil Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory updated on 30 August 2026. It cites crime and kidnapping, and says violent crime can happen in urban areas at any hour.

The page singles out Rio for drugging, saying assaults using sedatives in drinks are common there. It sets Level 4, Do Not Travel, for favelas, areas near most land borders and some Brasília satellite cities at night.

What It Means for You

For US travelers, the route gives Rio an overnight flight from JFK, bookable through GOL or American Airlines. Buy only from those sellers and check the current fare for your dates.

Expats in Rio gain a direct link to New York for visits home. Visitors with non-US passports should check Brazil’s visa rules for their own nationality.

What Is Not Known

Current fares and seat availability for 2027 could not be checked, because GOL’s booking pages could not be opened. The May fare is the only price found.

GOL’s release gives no season end date, no flight time and no name for the JFK terminal. Route reports place the flights at Terminal 8, American Airlines’ hub, but GOL does not say so.

Whether 2027 brings three or five flights a week is not known, nor which direction flies first on 28 March. Baggage rules and the cabin layout were not checked.

What Comes Next

Watch GOL’s booking pages for the full 2027 schedule and any change in weekly flights. The 330-day window moves forward every day, so later dates open as the season approaches.

Connected Coverage

For the city, see the Rio de Janeiro city page and the Brazil hub. For more flights, see Brazil’s Rio Airport Plans More US Flights.

For entry rules, see the Brazil e-visa guide for US citizens. Check the airline’s own pages for the latest schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does GOL fly Rio to New York in 2027?

GOL restarts the route on Sunday, 28 March 2027, with three round trips a week. Rio departures leave at 9:55 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Where do I buy GOL Rio to New York tickets?

GOL sells on its website and app, at its airport stores and through travel agencies. American Airlines channels also sell the flights.

Do US citizens need a visa for Brazil?

Yes, US citizens need a Brazilian e-visa, which is applied for online. Confirm the fee, validity and stay limit with Itamaraty before you fly.

Sources: GOL, press release on 2027 sales (14 May 2026); Route page with 2027 dates and a May 2026 fare; Abra Group executive remarks, 10 September 2026; Report on the July 2026 launch and aircraft; Route announcement of 3 June 2026; Air Canada, notice on the Brazil e-visa; US State Department, Brazil travel advisory; Central Bank of Brazil, PTAX dollar rate (all accessed 3 November 2026).