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GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., commonly known as GOL, is Brazil’s largest low-cost airline, headquartered at São Paulo–Congonhas Airport (CGH), with major hubs at São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG), and Brasília International Airport (BSB). Founded in 2000, GOL began operations on January 15, 2001, and has grown to operate around 900 daily flights, serving 76 destinations, including 60 domestic and 16 international routes across South America, the Caribbean, and the United States. Transporting approximately 20 million passengers annually, GOL holds a Skytrax Three-Star Low-Cost Airline rating and is a subsidiary of Grupo Áurea, controlled by the Constantino family. Despite its January 2024 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, GOL continues to operate, focusing on affordable fares, digital innovation, and sustainability.
GOL was established in August 2000 as GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. by the Constantino family, leveraging their expertise from Brazil’s largest long-distance bus company, Grupo Áurea. Operations began with a Boeing 737-300 flight from Brasília to São Paulo on January 15, 2001, introducing low-cost fares to Brazil’s domestic market. By 2004, GOL went public on the São Paulo (Bovespa) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges, raising funds for expansion. In 2007, GOL acquired VRG Linhas Aéreas, including the Varig brand, for $98 million, merging it into its operations by 2009 to serve international routes with Boeing 737-700s and 767-300ERs.
The airline pioneered digital check-in in Brazil and expanded internationally, launching seasonal Miami and Orlando flights in 2012 and Buenos Aires routes in 2014. A $100 million investment from Air France–KLM in 2014 supported growth ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics. However, financial challenges emerged, with a $1.1 billion debt to Brazil’s Air Force for unpaid navigation fees admitted in 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated losses, leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on January 25, 2024, in New York, with over $8.3 billion in debt. GOL secured $950 million in financing to sustain operations, receiving shareholder approval in May 2025 for a capital increase to exit bankruptcy by mid-2025. In 2024, GOL launched direct São Paulo–San José (Costa Rica) flights and expanded codeshares with American Airlines.
GOL operates a fleet of 141 Boeing aircraft: 44 737-700s, 74 737-800s, and 23 737 MAX 8s, with an average age of 10 years. The airline has orders for 64 additional 737 MAX 8s and 10s, emphasizing fuel efficiency (15% reduction vs. older models). Aircraft feature high-density layouts (186–189 seats) with animal-themed liveries, like the jaguar on PR-GXZ, promoting Brazilian biodiversity. GOL operates 900 daily flights, primarily domestic, connecting cities like Recife, Salvador, and Porto Alegre, with international routes to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Miami, and Orlando. Its cargo division, Gollog, serves 2,400 cities with 90 units across Brazil, transporting 50,000 tons annually.
São Paulo–Guarulhos (GRU), handling 43 million passengers annually, is GOL’s largest hub, with lounges and Express Baggage machines. Codeshares with 12 airlines, including Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, KLM, and TAP Air Portugal, expand connectivity to 100+ destinations. Interline agreements with carriers like Air Serbia enhance global reach. GOL’s maintenance base at Belo Horizonte/Confins (CNF), expanded in 2010, services 120 aircraft annually, including for Azul and Copa Airlines.