Brazil airline Gol upbeat on capacity as Boeing delivers new 737 MAXs
Brazilian airline Gol is ending 2024 with “good prospects” for adding capacity to its network, Chief Executive Celso Ferrer told Reuters, as Boeing delivered new 737 MAX aircraft after long delays.
Gol, which is under bankruptcy protection in the United States, received three MAX aircrafts this month and expects to get another one in January, reaching the mark of 53 aircrafts as it hoped a year ago.
“These new aircrafts will strengthen our operation. Our focus now is to make the most of the potential of our current fleet,” Ferrer said.
The new aircraft, initially slated for delivery early in the second half of this year, represent an investment of around 1 billion reais ($163 million), the executive added.
Airlines have been keen to add capacity in order to meet robust travel demand and renew their fleets to cut costs, but planemakers have been grappling with supply chain bottlenecks and production disruptions.
The new planes will reinforce Gol’s operations in the Brazilian high season and allow it to keep expanding its international network after adding destinations such as Bogota, San Jose, Aruba and Cancun in 2024.
“We hope to have more news to announce in 2025 in our international network,” Ferrer said, dubbing it a key focus for the coming years.
ASSOCIATED PRESS