Category Archives: Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes

Boeing and Gol to work on a sustainable biofuel in Brazil

Boeing (Chicago) and Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) will work together to speed the research, development and approval of new sources of sustainable aviation biofuel in Brazil. Their collaboration will support Gol’s plans to use this lower-carbon jet fuel on more flights during upcoming major sporting events and also will benefit long-term development of a new sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.

Paulo Sergio Kakinoff, chief executive officer of Gol, and Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Sales for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, signed a memorandum of understanding for biofuel collaboration at the Latin America and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum 2013.

Gol plans to use sustainable biojetfuel on 200 flights during the major sporting event in Brazil in 2014 and to incorporate biofuel into 20 percent of its flights during the major sporting event taking place in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Boeing will work with Gol to identify and select the most promising feedstocks and refining technologies and then will play a leading role in the approval process for new fuel pathways to ensure the fuel meets safety and performance standards.

The agreement between Boeing and Gol is a significant new step in efforts to advance an aviation biofuel industry in Brazil. On October 23, Brazil’s Aviator’s Day, Gol conducted Brazil’s first commercial biofuel flight in a Boeing 737-800 powered in part by sustainable aviation biofuel made from waste cooking oil and blended by Petrobras, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Following the flight, aviation industry stakeholders including Gol and Boeing, as well as Brazilian officials and research institutions, announced a national effort called the Brazilian Biojetfuel Platform to establish a sustainable biojetfuel industry with research and development in several regions of the country. If the Platform is successful, Brazil, which has already established a biofuel industry could be the first nation to establish a sustainable aviation biofuel industry from biomass production to flight.

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Gol’s Boeing 737-809 PR-GIT (msn 28403) in the striking Smiles special livery departs from Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol:

Gol reduces its losses in the second quarter to almost $191 million

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) issued the following financial information for the second quarter where it reduced its loss to $190.7 million.

recorded an operating loss (EBIT) of R$35 million in 2Q13 resulting in a negative margin of 1.8%, an improvement of R$320 million and 18 percentage points over 2Q12. In the first half, GOL recorded a positive operating margin of 1.7%, in line with the margin projected for 2013, of between 1% and 3%.
PRASK (passenger revenue per available seat-kilometer) totaled R$14.14 cents in 2Q13, 10.5% up on 2Q12. This performance fueled the 7.5% year-over-year upturn in RASK (operating revenue per available seat-kilometer), which came to R$15.72 cents in 2Q13. The continuous monthly increase in PRASK since April 2012 reflects the Company’s efforts in optimizing its offer and maximizing the profitability of its routes.
CASK (operating cost per available seat-kilometer) totaled R$16.01 cents in the second quarter, 8.4% down on the same period last year. Fuel costs per ASK fell by 8.8%, primarily due to the 3.4% decline in the per-liter fuel price and the use of a more fuel-efficient fleet. CASK ex-fuel fell by 8% in the same period, chiefly impacted by the reduction in personnel costs.
SMILES’ IPO during the quarter meant that the Company ended 2Q13 with its biggest ever quarterly cash position (cash, cash equivalents, financial investments and short and long-term restricted cash), totaling R$2.8 billion, equivalent to 34% of net revenue of the last 12 months (LTM).

Read the analysis by the Wall Street Journal: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8EH WL PR-GUM (msn 35846) in the new CBF – Transportadora Oficial de Selecao Brasileira livery taxies past the camera in Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol Transportes Aereos:

Gol introduces a new football logojet

Gol Transportes Aereos (Sao Paulo) has introduced a new logojet. The carrier has unveiled a new logojet in support of the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF-Confederação Brasileira de Futebol). The special livery incorporates the Brazilian flag colors as well as the five stars of the five World Cups won by Brazil. the logojet contains the insignia of CBF on the tail surfaces and the phrase “Transportadora Oficial da Seleção Brasileira” (official transporter of the Brazilian team). The aircraft, the pictured Boeing 737-8EH PR-GUM (msn 35846), flew the Brazilian team from Goiania to Brasilia yesterday for the forthcoming FIFA Confederations Cup during the period of June 15-30, 2013.

The CBF issued this statement:

The CBF announces that on Wednesday (June 12, 2013) Seleção Brasileira arrived in Brasilia, site of the debut in Confederations Cup, on the Boeing 738-800 Next Generation Sky Interior of Gol, specially painted with the colors of Seleção.

The initiative of the airline – the official carrier of Seleção Brasileira – reinforces this act, the meaning of partnership.

Gol managed to have the first of three aircraft alluding to Seleção ready before the Confederations Cup. This was the result of compromise and teamwork, characteristics that unite us even more.

Besides the flights of Seleção, this aircraft will integrate the operations of Gol, which will allow fans to also be able to know this special tribute.

President José Maria is thrilled with the results produced by the partnership between the Brazilian Football Confederation and the company.

“I appreciate the professionalism and dedication of Gol, from its Board to its employees. The CBF has in this company a great partner and ally.”

Want to see more logojets? Follow our Airline Special Color Schemes blog: CLICK HERE

Gol:

Video:

Gol explores the option of flying to Africa

Gol Transportes Aereos (Sao Paulo) is exploring the possibility of adding a new route to Lagos, Nigeria. The airline issued this short statement:

“Gol is studying the possibility of opening a new route between Brazil and Nigeria, in Africa. The new flight would be operated by Gol’s standard fleet of Boeing 737 NG.”

Copyright Photo Above: Gol. Not to be overlooked, on March 8, 2013 in order to celebrate International Women’s Day, Gol completed a domestic flight totally with a female crew. Fernanda Prieto, commander (left); Deise Cristiane (right), copilot (above); Andrea Duderstadt, head of cabin and flight attendants Onalice Gama, Suellen Lisandra and Patricia Ferreira (below) represented women in Brazilian aviation.

Top Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. DeBiasi/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-85F WL PR-GIO (msn 30477) arrives at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol:

Video (in Portuguese:

Gol to double its flights at Viracopos-Campinas International Airport

Gol Transportes Aereos (Sao Paulo) has filed a formal request with the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to expand its operations at Viracopos Airport, in Campinas, Brazil. The company expects the six new daily flights (five to Santos Dumont and one to Brasília) will start on September 1, 2013.

Viracopos–Campinas International Airport (VCP/SBKP) is an international airport serving the Campinas, Brazil area northwest of Sao Paulo.

Viracopos-Campinas is also the home of Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras.

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi/AirlinersGallery.com. Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-8EH WL PR-GTF (msn 34279) in the special GOL 10 ANOS livery arrives at Sao Paulo (Congonhas).

Gol:

Map: Yahoo Travel: Viracopos-Campinas International Airport is located in Campinas in the northwest section of the Sao Paulo metropolitan area.

Gol expands its code-share relationship with Delta

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aéreos) (Sao Paulo) has announced a key milestone in its partnership with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta): the implementation of Gol code-share on Delta’s flights from Brasilia to Atlanta.

The companies together offer approximately 380 destinations in more than 62 countries.

“The code-share implementation which has now started and will be done in six phases from May to August,” said Paulo Miranda, Alliances and Strategy manager for Delta Air Lines. “Besides the route from Brasilia to Atlanta, soon we will be integrating all flights operated by Delta between Brazil and the United States to Atlanta and flights to the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and to Detroit and as part of the codeshare agreement”, he emphasizes.

The route from Brasilia to Atlanta is already available to be acquired at Gol channels and the first flight will take place on May 20. The second phase will include flights from Goiania, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre all via Brasilia to Atlanta. This action allows baggage to be labeled and dispatched to final destination.

Gol:

Delta Air Lines:

Gol shuts down Webjet today

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) has announced as of today (November 23), it will begin the process of winding up the activities of its subsidiary Webjet Linhas Aereas (Rio de Janeiro) and the discontinuation of its name and brand. The airline was grounded today.

The group continued in its statement; “The first step is to extinguish flight operations. Webjet has an operational model based on a fleet that mostly consists of aging Boeing 737-300 aircraft that are advanced age, technologically out of date and consume large amounts of fuel. Given the Brazilian sector’s new cost standards, this model is no longer competitive.

As a result of the winding up of operations, around 850 employees, including flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel, will be laid off.

Webjet’s clients and passengers will be fully served by Gol and their flights will be guaranteed. As of this date, Gol will be responsible for all air transport and associated services for these passengers. In this context, all the necessary measures are been taken.

As a result of this decision and its consequences, the Company estimates a non-recurring increase in costs in the fourth quarter of 2012, which will be disclosed to the market opportunely. However, the measures will improve operational efficiency as of 2013.

In relation to Webjet’s Boeing 737-300 fleet, Gol estimates that it will return all 20 aircraft by the end of the first half of 2013, 16 of which in the first quarter.

Thanks to the smaller fleet, Gol expects to reduce its domestic supply (ASK) by between 5% and 8% year-on- year in the first half of 2013, underlining its commitment to recovering its operating margins and the sustainability of the business.”

Webjet Linhas Aereas:

Gol reduces its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million

Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) reduced its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million.

Read the full report from Zacks: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. Boeing 737-8EH PR-GTF (msn 34279) in the special 10 Anos (10 Years) color schemes taxies at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol:

Gol files a new request to operate regular scheduled flights to the United States

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) has announced that it has submitted to the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) a formal request to operate regular flights in routes connecting Brazil to the United States, with one stop in Santo Domingo. These flights will be operated by Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.

They are expected to begin at the end of the year. If approved, the plan will consist of two daily flights between Brazil and the United States with a stop in Santo Domingo. One flight will depart from São Paulo (Guarulhos International Airport) and the other from Rio de Janeiro (Galeão International Airport). The flights will arrive in Santo Domingo (Las Americas Airport), where passengers will be transferred to flights to their final destinations, Orlando and Miami.

Gol is awaiting all the necessary authorizations before disclosing any details about the new operation, including information about fares, services and products.

Copyright Photo: Bernardo Andrade. Boeing 737-8EH PR-GTY (msn 34273) prepares to taxi to the runway at Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

Gol Transportes Aereos:

Gol’s second quarter net loss widens to $354 million

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereas and Webjet Linhas Aereas) (Sao Paulo) reported its second quarter net loss expanded to $354 million due to fuel costs and its debt service.

Read the full report from the airline (in Portuguese): CLICK HERE

Read the analysis by the WSJ: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato. “Smiles” is not the operative word at Gol’s headquarters with this financial report. Boeing 737-809 PR-GIT (msn 28403) approaches the Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) hub while promoting the in-house “Smiles” frequent flyer program (click on the photo for the full view and further information).

Gol: