São Paulo, December 10, 2018 - 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.