At the Farnborough Airshow, AerCap Cargo and GOL Linhas Aéreas confirmed the signing of an agreement for the lease of up to six 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (aircraft converted from their original passenger-carrying version to air cargo units). The first aircraft is already on its way to Brazil, as reported by our partner media Aeroin.
The aircraft, with manufacturer’s serial number 34965, will be registered in the country as PS-GFB. Last July 15th, it flew from Shanghai (PVG) to Guam (GUM). The next day, it took off for Honolulu (HNL) and then to Victorville (VCV), California, where it stayed for three days. Now, the aircraft awaits in San José (SJO), Costa Rica, for its final transfer to Belo Horizonte.
Importance in Brazil’s growing e-commerce market
The freighters will be part of the logistics services business unit GOLLOG. In April this year, the airline had announced a partnership with Mercado Livre, the Brazilian subsidiary of Argentinean e-commerce giant Mercado Libre. The agreement included the operation of a cargo aircraft fleet of six 737-800BCF, capable of carrying up to 24 tonnes. Its initial planned duration is ten years.
The first three ones are expected to be inducted this year. The remaining three aircraft would be delivered in 2023. According to GOL, they would generate savings of 5 million dollars in 2022 and a further 16 million in 2023. They would also allow for further dilution of fixed costs and generate new business opportunities.
The agreement with Mercado Livre is part of GOL’s investment to meet the needs of the growing e-commerce market, which generates more than 38 billion dollars in annual revenues.
GOLLOG currently operates cargo services at 52 airports in Brazil. The company expects to generate additional incremental revenues of approximately 21 million dollars by 2022 and more than 214 million over the next five years.
GOL Aerotech, the company’s aircraft and component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) division, is in the process of being certified to perform the conversion of the aircraft at its facility at Confins International Airport. Once the process is completed, the aircraft will sport the Mercado Livre livery.
«We are very pleased to announce our agreement to lease six 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters to our longstanding customer GOL», said Peter Anderson, CCO of AerCap. «These 737-800BCF’s will be a versatile addition to GOL’s fleet, allowing them to respond to the increased demand from e-commerce retail businesses in South America», he added.
