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VRG Begins Ticket Sales to London, England
Sao Paulo, October 4, 2007 GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the parent company of Brazils low-cost airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (GTA, which operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (VRG, which operates the VARIG brand), today began selling tickets for VRGs newest route, Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo London.
The launch of London flights on October 28 is an important step in VRGs expanding international route network, which currently includes flights to key European cities in France, Italy and Germany, says Lincoln Amano, VRGs commercial director. By December of this year, we will provide additional services to Europe through Madrid, Spain as well as to Latin America, through flights to Mexico City, Mexico; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Santiago, Chile. The Companys international routes in South America currently include Bogotá, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Caracas, Venezuela.
The launch flight will depart from Rio de Janeiros Tom Jobim Airport at 8:30 pm (local time), making a connection at Sao Paulos Guarulhos International Airport at 9:30 pm (local time), before continuing to the British capital arriving at 3:00 pm (local time). Returning to Brazil, flights take off from Londons Heathrow Airport at 10:05 pm (local time), landing in São Paulo at 8:15 am (local time) and arriving in Rio de Janeiro at 10 am (local time).
Business travel and tourism between England and Brazil is a key reason for launching this new route. Trade between Brazil and the United Kingdom has increased steadily over the past year. Brazilian exports to the U.K. (which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) grew nearly 9 percent last year, reaching a record US$ 2.8 billion; the U.K. now ranks thirteenth among the largest importers of Brazilian goods and services. Brazil imported approximately US$ 1.4 billion in goods and services from the U.K., up nearly 3 percent compared to 2005. According to Embratur (Brazils Tourism Board), England ranks ninth among the top 10 countries providing tourists to Brazil. Approximately 170,000 English tourists visited Brazil in 2006 and nearly 175,000 Brazilians traveled to England over the same period.
Tickets to London are available for purchase through VRGs website (www.varig.com) and the Companys call centers. Please see the destination table below for flight departure schedules:
Origin | Connection | Destination | Frequency | Departure* | Arrival* |
Rio de Janeiro | São Paulo | London | Daily ** | 08:30 PM | 03:00 PM |
London | São Paulo | Rio de Janeiro | Daily *** | 10:05 PM | 10:00 AM |
* | Local time |
** | Service is not available on Wednesdays |
*** | Service is not available on Thursdays |
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About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. is the parent company of low-cost airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (GTA, which operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (VRG, which operates the VARIG
brand). GTA and VRG offer daily flights to more destinations in Brazil than any other domestic airline while providing customers with the most convenient flight schedules in the country. The airlines operate a young, modern fleet of Boeing aircraft,
the safest and most comfortable aircraft of its class, with low maintenance, fuel and training costs, and high aircraft utilization and efficiency ratios. In addition to safe and reliable services, which stimulate brand recognition and customer
satisfaction, the Companys service is recognized as the best value proposition in the market. Growth plans include increasing frequencies in existing markets and adding service to additional markets in both Brazil and other high-traffic travel
destinations. Shares are listed on the NYSE (GOL) and the Bovespa (GOLL4) stock exchanges.
GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. offers over 630 daily flights to 58 destinations connecting the most important cities in Brazil as well as the main destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. For more information on GOL flight times and fares, please access www.voegol.com.br or call: 0300-115-2121 in Brazil, 0810-266-3131 in Argentina, 800-1001-21 in Bolivia, 1 888 0042 0090 or 1230 020 9104 in Chile, 009 800 55 1 0007 in Paraguay, 0800 52 900 in Peru, 0004 055 127 in Uruguay and 55 11 2125-3200 in other countries.
VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. offers over 120 daily flights to 13 destinations in Brazil: Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fernando de Noronha, Florianópolis, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. VRG also offers 20 daily flights to six international destinations in South America and Europe: Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Caracas, in South America and Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, in Europe. For more information on VRG flight times and fares, please access www.varig.com.br or call: 4003-7000 in Brazil, 54 11 4329 9211 in Buenos Aires (Monday - Friday), 0810 32182744 in other areas of Argentina (Monday - Friday), or 54 11 5480 8017 9 in all areas of Argentina (Saturday - Sunday and Holidays), 57 1 350 7100 in Colombia, 44 207 660 0341 in England, 33 1 70 48 00 58 in France, 39 06 4877 1352 in Italy, 34 91 754 7014 in Spain and 1 800 468 2744 or 1 800 GO VARIG in the USA and Canada.
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CONTACT: GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
Investor Relations | Corporate Communications | |
Ph: (5511) 3169 6800 | Ph: (5511) 3169 6967 | |
E-mail: ri@golnaweb.com.br | E-mail: | |
Site: www.voegol.com.br/ir | comunicacaocorporativa@golnaweb.com.br | |
Media Brazil & Latin America | Media U.S. & Europe | |
MVL Comunicação; D. Barbará and A. | Edelman; G. Juncadella and M. Smith | |
Michelacci | Ph: +1 (212) 704-4448 / 704-8196 | |
Ph: (5511) 3049-0349 / 0341 | E-mail:gabriela.juncadella@edelman.com; | |
E-mail: daniela.barbara@mvl.com.br; | meaghan.smith@edelman.com | |
alexandre.michelacci@mvl.com.br |
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the prospects of the business, estimates for operating and financial results, and those related to growth prospects of GOL. These are merely projections and, as such, are based exclusively on the expectations of GOLs management concerning the future of the business and its continued access to capital to fund the Companys business plan. Such forward-looking statements depend, substantially, on changes in market conditions, government regulations, competitive pressures, the performance of the Brazilian economy and the industry, among other factors and risks disclosed in GOLs filed disclosure documents and are, therefore, subject to change without prior notice.
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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A. |
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By: |
/S/ Richard F. Lark, Jr.
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Name: Richard F. Lark, Jr.
Title: Executive Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer |
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will a ctually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.