Announces Plan for Fleet Modernization and Renewal
GOL has decided to exercise firm
orders for 34 Boeing 737-800 NGs, completing the purchase option
for 121 aircraft negotiated in October 2006, and has signed a new
contract for the acquisition of 40 additional aircraft for delivery
in 2012-2014.
"This new contract will further reduce GOL's costs and enable us
to continue to modernize our fleet with new aircraft," says
Fernando Rockert de Magalhaes, GOL's Technical Vice President. The
agreement, which increases the number of aircraft on order from 121
to 161, is in line with GOL's policy of reducing operating costs by
operating a standardized fleet.
The Boeing 737-800 NG, with its low operating costs, is a key
part of GOL's strategy. Boeing developed the 737-800 SFP aircraft
with short runway and take-off and landing capabilities per GOL's
specifications.
The 737-800 is larger than the 737-700 and can carry up to 30
percent more passengers. "Increased seat capacity per aircraft not
only reduces the costs of providing passenger transportation, but
also improves our ability to distribute passengers within our large
domestic and growing international flight networks," adds
Rockert.
The Company also announced that it has accelerated its plans for
modernization and renewal of the GOL and VRG fleets.
By the end of 2009, 50 percent of the narrow-body fleet will be
comprised of 737-800SFP aircraft, reducing the average age of the
combined narrow-body fleet to 5.5 years. At the end of 2012, over
75 percent of the narrow-body fleet will be comprised of 737-800
SFP aircraft, maintaining the average age of the combined
narrow-body fleet at 5.5 years.
Boeing Statement on Brazil's GOL Airlines Fleet Selection
The Boeing Company is honored that Brazil's GOL Linhas
Aéreas S.A., the parent company of Brazil's low-cost
airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. and VRG Linhas
Aéreas S.A., Latin America's largest 737 operator, has
announced selection of the Next-Generation 737 as a key element of
its fleet renewal. "GOL has garnered international attention by
consistently posting profits since beginning operations, and the
737 has been a large part of that success," said John Wojick,
Boeing's vice president of sales for Latin America and the
Caribbean. "The Next-Generation 737 enables GOL to continue
providing passengers reliable, on-time performance while benefiting
from the airplane's reliability and fast airport turnaround
times."
Boeing looks forward to concluding financial and contractual
details of the GOL selection.