SAO PAULO, Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas
Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4),
Brazil's #1 airline, announced
today an acceleration of its fleet renewal and modernization plan
and the execution of operating lease agreements for 11 Boeing 737
MAX 8 aircraft with Avolon.
Result of operational gains and favorable market conditions, GOL
has accelerated its fleet renewal and modernization plan with
operating leases of 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to be received in
the second half of 2019. GOL will maintain its capacity discipline,
and the decision to accelerate its fleet renewal maintains the
flexibility of GOL's fleet plan. The accelerated fleet renewal will
not alter GOL's planned capacity, as the Company will
simultaneously return and/or sell 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft
under operating and finance leases.
"We acquired the 737 MAX to make GOL's operations even more
efficient and to offer our passengers additional flights aboard new
and even more modern and safe aircraft. The 737 MAX exceeds the
expected performance on every count," said Paulo Kakinoff, CEO of
GOL. "We've been very impressed with the MAX's superior range, fuel
efficiency and reliability. By accelerating our fleet renewal plan
to this new technology, we will be able to further reduce our costs
and open up more international destinations for our
customers."
GOL launched operations with the 737 MAX 8 in July 2018 with impressive results. Compared to
GOL's 737-800 NG aircraft, the MAX 8 has decreased fuel consumption
on GOL's routes by approximately 15%. Additionally, the increased
range of the 737 MAX 8 has allowed GOL to further diversify its
route network and to begin operating flights to North America. In fact, GOL's new Brasilia-Orlando route is the longest commercial 737
flight in history.
"GOL continues to be at the forefront of making air travel more
accessible across Latin America.
The airline is capitalizing the advantage of the MAX's long range
and unmatched efficiency to profitably open new routes and reduce
operating costs," said Ihssane
Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales &
Marketing for The Boeing Company. "We are honored that GOL has
experienced the many advantages of flying the MAX and selected to
speed up deliveries to realize the benefits across their
fleet."
In addition to the four new international destinations already
announced - Miami, Orlando, Quito and Cancun – the additional 737 MAX 8s will allow
GOL to launch a new international destination every quarter over
the next two years.
Onboard, GOL's passengers will also enjoy the greater comfort
and convenience provided by the Boeing Sky Interior, which
includes: a spacious and welcoming cabin, dynamic LED lighting, and
the largest and most accessible overhead bins in the market. The
aircraft will also be equipped with Wi-Fi antennas, making it
possible for passengers to access GOL's complete on-board
entertainment platform during flights.
GOL has an order for 135 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to be delivered
through 2028 and is currently the largest 737 operator in
Latin America and one of the
largest in the world. The 737 MAX offers exceptional performance,
with lower per-seat costs and an extended range to open new
destinations. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest CFM International
LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets, Boeing Sky Interior,
large flight deck displays and other features to deliver the
highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the
market.
GOL Investor Relations
ri@voegol.com.br
www.voegol.com.br/ir
+55(11) 2128-4700
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. ("GOL")
GOL serves more than 30 million passengers
annually. With Brazil's largest
network, GOL offers customers more than 700 daily
flights to 69 destinations in 10 countries in South America, Caribbean and the
United States. GOLLOG is a leading cargo
transportation and logistics business serving more than 3,400
Brazilian municipalities and, through partners, more than 200
international destinations in 95 countries. SMILES is
one of the largest coalition loyalty programs in Latin America, with over 14 million registered
participants, allowing clients to accumulate miles and redeem
tickets for more than 700 locations worldwide, Headquartered in São
Paulo. GOL has a team of more than 15,000 highly
skilled aviation professionals and operates a fleet of 120 Boeing
737 aircraft, with a further 133 Boeing 737 MAX on order,
delivering Brazil's top on-time
performance and an industry leading 17 year safety record.
GOL has invested billions of Reais in facilities,
products and services and technology to enhance the customer
experience in the air and on the ground. GOL's shares are traded on
the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit
www.voegol.com.br/ir.
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SOURCE GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.