Air Transport

Flight International online news 13:00GMT: Brazilian low-cost airline Gol is to double its firm order for Boeing 737-800s to 60 aircraft and increase the number of purchase options to 41.

The increase takes the size of its total order for Boeing 737-800 aircraft to 101 from 63 in an effort to support the carrier’s continued expansion.

Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2006 and 2012.

Gol says the options are exercisable between 2007 and 2012 and will “lend greater flexibility to the company's already adaptable expansion plans”. The airline currently operates 35 Boeing 737 aircraft, ten of which are 737-800s.

“While the aircraft is already among the fastest and most technologically advanced products, the new 737s will also be fitted with winglets, which will further improve fuel efficiency by over 4%,” says Gol chief executive Constantino de Oliveira Junior.

“Our fleet plan supports profitable growth by keeping costs low so that we can expand our route network and offer the most competitive fares to more customers.”

Gol – which is planning to establish a low-fare airline in Mexico – says it will use the new 737s for further route expansion in Brazil and South America. Gol already plans to offer international flights to Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia, Montevideo in Uruguay, and Asuncion in Paraguay this year.