GOL Linhas Aereas is planning to operate 27 commercial domestic flights with the Boeing 737 MAX in 2020. Starting on December 18 (not December 10, as previously reported), the Brazilian airline still expects to become the first carrier worldwide to operate the recently ungrounded narrowbody.
An update on GOL’s MAX
GOL Linhas Aereas currently has a fleet of seven Boeing 737 MAX. According to local media, it also has a standing order for 95 new airplanes, some of which may even be delivered before the year ends.
The Brazilian carrier will use its MAX fleet on domestic flights for two reasons. The first is that only the US and Brazil have recertified the MAX so far worldwide. The second is that GOL will not fly internationally until March 2021.
According to the Brazilian website Pontos e Viagens, GOL scheduled 27 commercial domestic flights with the MAX between December 18 and 31. GOL still can modify these flights. If you search GOL’s website, the airline hasn’t yet officially announced that it will operate the MAX on these flights.
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Where will it fly?
These are the routes and flight numbers:
- Guarulhos-Brasilia flight G3-1118 on December 18
- Brasilia-Sao Paulo flight G3-1119 on December 18
- Sao Paulo-Brasilia flight G3-1122 on December 18
- Sao Paulo-Goiania flight G3-1160 on December 18
- Goiania-Sao Paulo flight G3-1161 on December 18
- Sao Paulo-Porto Alegre flight G3-1310 on December 18
- Sao Paulo-Florianopolis flight G3-1322 on December 18 and 27
- Florianópolis-Sao Paulo flight G3-1323 on December 18 and 27
- Sao Paulo-Salvador flight G3-1716 on December 18
- Salvador-Sao Paulo flight G3-1717 on December 18
- Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro flight G3-1062 on December 19
- Rio de Janeiro-Sao Paulo flight G3-1065 on December 19
- Brasilia-Sao Paulo flight G3-1117 on December 19
- Porto Alegre-Sao Paulo flight G3-1305 on December 19
- Sao Paulo-Natal flight G3-1748 on December 19
- Natal-Sao Paulo flight G3-4119 on December 19
- Sao Paulo-Natal flight G3-9158 on December 19
- Natal-Sao Paulo flight G3-1737 on December 20
- Sao Paulo-Natal flight G3-4102 on December 20
- Natal-Sao Paulo flight G3-9091 on December 20
- Sao Paulo-Belo Horizonte flight G3-1442 on December 21
- Belo Horizonte-Sao Paulo flight G3-1443 on December 21
- Sao Paulo-Brasilia flight G3-1120 on December 26
- Brasilia-Sao Paulo flight G3-1121 on December 26
- Natal-Sao Paulo flight G3-9025 on December 31.
The next #737MAX for @VoeGOLoficial rolled out of final assembly.
Reg: PR-XMV pic.twitter.com/7TJQaljdSQ
— Woodys Aeroimages (@AeroimagesChris) December 6, 2020
Is GOL ready to operate the MAX again?
Today GOL published its Monthly Investor Update. In it, the airline talked about its MAX fleet. First of all, GOL expects to operate its seven MAX-8 before the end of 2020.
The Brazilian carrier says it is ready to do so. Paulo Kakinoff, GOL’s CEO said,
“We have trained our pilots and undertaken technical flights for the return of the MAX aircraft, and we are confident that it is one of the safest and most efficient aircraft in the world.”
In the past few days, GOL has made several flights with its Boeing 737 MAX fleet, including one with journalists and company members.
GOL tries to merge with Smiles
Finally, GOL proposed today a merger with its loyalty program Smiles Fidelidade. If implemented, the merger would result in the migration of Smiles’ shareholders to a combined base, it said in a statement.
The merger also would maximize value for all shareholders by aligning the business objectives of both entities. GOL said that Smiles is the only frequent flyer program in the Americas separate from its sponsor airline.
In recent times, Avianca reintegrated Life Miles, Aeromexico negotiated the purchase of Club Premier, Air Canada acquired Aeroplan, and LATAM purchased Multiplus.
Would you fly in one of GOL’s Boeing 737 MAX? Let us know in the comments.
