Brazil’s GOL bumps B737 MAX order by 28 units

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes (G3, Sao Paulo Congonhas) has announced an order for an incremental twenty-eight B737-8s with deliveries due by the end of 2022 as it accelerates its transition from B737NG to MAX generation aircraft.

“We are accelerating our fleet transformation plan in anticipation of a strong recovery in travel in the post-pandemic environment. The B737 MAX positions GOL more competitively for growth through the expansion of routes and destinations, while also enhancing the company’s value for all stakeholders through increased efficiency,” Chief Executive Paulo Kakinoff said.

The Brazilian carrier said the newly ordered B737 MAX would replace twenty-three B737-800s it currently operates. Under the updated schedule, GOL plans to take delivery of a further sixteen B737-8s by the end of 2021 to increase the type’s fleet to 28 units. Another 16 will be delivered in 2022. In 2023 and beyond, GOL plans to take at least five new B737-8s per year. In total, including the newly ordered aircraft, GOL has firm commitments for ninety-eight B737-8s and twenty-five B737-10s. The deliveries of the -10s are due to begin in 2023.

In December 2020, GOL was the world’s first carrier to resume scheduled B737 MAX operations. Nonetheless, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline cancelled 34 commitments for B737 MAX aircraft from Boeing – a decision that has now been partially reversed.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that GOL’s B737NG fleet comprises twenty-three B737-700s and ninety-three-800s. While the carrier intends to return some of the B737NGs gradually, it does not currently foresee their complete retirement and anticipates that by 2030, around a quarter of its fleet will be B737NGs.

GOL will finance 15 aircraft via direct operating leases, nine via sale-leasebacks, and four via finance leases. Overall, it plans to own around half of its total fleet via finance leases and operationally lease the remainder to provide it with the flexibility to adapt the fleet size to market circumstances. All twelve of its already delivered B737-8s are on operating leases.