Gol Linhas Aéreas received its first cargo aircraft in its 20 years of operations. The aircraft, with registration PS-GFA (msn 34965), will be one of six aircraft of the model already confirmed by Gol until 2023, under a contract with Mercado Libre, with the possibility of including six additional Boeing 737s in 2025.
The aircraft will fly on different routes in the country, at the request of the Argentine company, which has a strong presence in Brazil and is a leader in e-commerce in Latin America. Visually, the aircraft will be characterized by a bright yellow color and the Mercado Livre logo (with «v» in Portuguese) highlighted on the fuselage and vertical stabilizer.
The inaugural flight is scheduled for September 1, departing from São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU), according to information obtained by our Brazilian media partner, AEROIN. The first routes will be to Brasilia (BSB), Fortaleza (FOR), Joao Pessoa (JPA), Porto Alegre (POA), Recife (REC), São Luis (SLZ), Teresina (THE) and Vitoria (VIX), with almost all flights operated at night and dawn.
The GOL and Mercado Libre agreement
In April of this year, both companies signed a long-term contract aimed at facilitating commerce in Brazil, with an emphasis on the North, Northeast and Midwest.
The initiative is part of the R$ 17 billion (USD 3 billion) investment package that Mercado Libre announced for this year in Brazil.
«The first flights will target the cities of Fortaleza (CE), São Luís (MA) and Teresina (PI), where the current four-day delivery period will be reduced to just one, considering the loads stored in Fulfillment. We will reduce delivery time by up to 80%. This is the realization of our purpose of fast delivery and democratization of trade throughout the country,» celebrates Fernando Yunes, senior vice president and leader of Mercado Livre in Brazil.
In addition to this first GOL aircraft, two more will start operating in the second half of the year and the others will join the fleet by the third quarter of 2023. The agreement also includes the option to add another six freighter aircraft by 2025.
«This aircraft symbolizes the beginning of a new phase for GOL and GOLLOG. This business model, unprecedented for the Company, could not have had a better partner, a leader in the e-commerce market in Latin America. Being part of this and contributing to democratize this service for millions of Brazilians, in a structured and sustainable way, makes us proud and motivates us to continue growing», said Celso Ferrer, president of GOL Linhas Aéreas.
All aircraft will have the Mercado Libre visual identity, which was applied by GOL Aerotech, the Company’s business unit specialized in maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft and components, the largest in Latin America, headquartered in Belo Horizonte Confins-MG. The unit is in the process of certification to fully perform the conversions of this partnership’s upcoming aircraft.
«We estimate that GOLLOG will register an increase of approximately 80% in its supply capacity in tons,» estimates Julio Perotti, CEO of GOLLOG. «This is a great move that expands our operations in Brazil, increasing the range of services offered, which should represent an incremental revenue of R＄100 million (USD 19 million) in 2022 and more than R＄1 billion (USD 195 million) over the next 5 years,» adds Perotti.
The first six aircraft
All Boeing 737-800s have previously flown on Gol as passenger aircraft, will be converted to the BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) version and will have the capacity to carry up to 24 tons. The aircraft that will make up the first batch of Gol cargo are as follows:
- MSN 34965 – Manufactured in 2007, it flew on Gol as PR-GTP. It returned to Brazil on July 22 and was registered PS-GFA (aircraft featured in this article).
- MSN 34279 – Manufactured in 2006, previously flew at Gol as PR-GTF. It is currently in the process of conversion to freighter and is registered as N272GE. When it returns to Brazil, it will be registered as PS-GFB.
- MSN 34275 – Manufactured in 2008, flew on Webjet and is still with Gol as PR-GGD.
- MSN 34964 – Manufactured in 2007, still flies for Gol as PR-GTO.
- MSN 35065 – Manufactured in 2008, still flies for Gol as PR-GGK.
- MSN 36146 – Manufactured in 2007, flew for Gol as PR-GTQ, but has been in storage since February. In June it was transferred to Costa Rica for maintenance, prior to conversion. It should receive the registration PS-GFC.
