São Paulo – Gol Linhas Aéreas plans to fly to Nigeria this year and inaugurate the first company route to Africa. In a statement to Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) and to investors, the company confirms its intention of inaugurating the new route.<\/p>\n
According to aviation market research company Centre for Aviation (Capa), headquartered in Australia, an executive at Gol stated that the company is seeking a destination in Africa, at the request of the government of Brazil, and that the company has already sought authorisation for the route to Lagos, Nigeria, flying from Recife, three times a week. “The route could be released by late 2013, mainly if Brazilian companies and the Federal government support the project proposed, as is expected to take care,” stated the press statement disclosed by Capa on June 11.<\/p>\n
The Gol fleet has 148 aircraft, of which 37 are 737-700, which may fly up to 6,370 kilometres non-stop. Another 94 aircraft are of the 737-800 model, with autonomy for 5,675 kilometres. These two aircraft are in the Next Generation (NG) class, with which Gol plans to operate the route. The company also has another 15 Boeing 737-300 and two 767-300\/200 aircraft, which are not operating. Lagos is approximately 4,500 kilometres away from Recife. Gol was sought by ANBA, but preferred not to comment.<\/p>\n
Capa also stated that Recife should not be the main origin of passengers heading to Africa. Most of these clients should fly from São Paulo, using company connections.<\/p>\n
Capa says that, if this flight is confirmed, it should not be the only new flight between Brazil and Africa. Ethiopian Airlines should inaugurate, on July 1st, its flight between Brazil and Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, with stops in Lomé, Togo, and Rio de Janeiro, before arriving in São Paulo, in three weekly flights. The company will be the first to fly to Brazil with the 787 Dreamliner, released by Boeing last year and which had its flights suspended temporarily in the first quarter due to problems with battery fire.<\/p>\n
According to Capa, there are currently 19 weekly flights operating between Brazil and Africa: 11 of them operated by South Africa Airways, seven by the Angolan TAAG and one by TACV, from Cape Verde. According to Capa, the new flights between Brazil and Africa will help reduce the low offer of flights between both continents.<\/p>\n
Destination: United States<\/strong><\/p>\n Flying to Africa in coming months is not the only expansion forecasted by Gol. Also according to Capa, the company plans to expand its flights to the United States. Gol already flies to Miami and Orlando, with a stop in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, from São Paulo and also Rio de Janeiro. The company is also studying the possibility of flying to Boston and Havana. To supply this expansion in flights to Central and North America, the Brazilian airline is evaluating the possibility of opening a subsidiary in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n *Translated by Mark Ament<\/strong><\/p>\n