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VRG Launches Flights to Paris and Rome
Sao Paulo, September 20, 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, that operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (VRG, that operates the VARIG brand), announced today that VRG has begun daily operations of its newest international route: Sao Paulo Paris Rome.
A new Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft, recently incorporated into the Companys fleet, will service the route. Flights will depart from Guarulhos International Airport for Romes Leonardo da Vinci- Fiumicino Airport, making one stop at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Launching this new route is another important step in our expansion plans, says Lincoln Amano, VRGs commercial director. The Company currently operates two daily flights to Germany; with the addition of the Sao Paulo Paris Rome route, we are further increasing the number of flights connecting South America and Europe. In addition to Frankfurt, Germany, VRG currently offers international service to Frankfurt, Germany; Bogotá, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Caracas, Venezuela.
France and Italy are two of the most popular destinations for tourists from around the world. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), both rank among the top 10 most popular countries for Brazilian tourists. This new route will also serve the increasing demand for Europeans looking to travel to Brazil: approximately 275,000 French tourists traveled to Brazil in 2006, while nearly 300,000 Italians visited the country over the same period.
Tickets to Paris and Rome are available for purchase through VRGs website (www.varig.com.br). Please see the destination table below for flight departure schedules:
Origin | Destination | Frequency | Departure* | Arrival* |
Sao Paulo | Paris | Daily | 11:59 PM | 4:20 PM |
Paris | Sao Paulo | Daily | 11:50 PM | 6:50 AM |
Sao Paulo | Rome | Daily | 11:59 PM | 7:15 PM |
Rome | Sao Paulo | Daily | 8:50 PM | 6:50 AM |
Paris | Rome | Daily | 5:30 PM | 7:15 PM |
Rome | Paris | Daily | 8:50 PM | 10:45 PM |
*Local time |
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: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Curitiba, Fernando de Noronha, Florianópolis, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro (Galeão and Santos Dumont), Salvador and São Paulo (Congonhas and Guarulhos). 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, 39 023 859 1250 in Italy, 34 91 754 7014 in Spain and 1 800 468 2744 or 1 800 GO VARIG in the USA and Canada.
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.
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.