With more capital and planes available after leaving Chapter 11 (US process equivalent to judicial recovery), Gol () invests in international expansion. The goal is to fly to all South American countries by 2029. Among the most relevant destinations in the region, only Ecuador, Chile and Peru are not yet served by the company. But studies for the resumption of these routes, already operated in the past, are underway, according to Gol’s commercial vice president, Mateus Pongeluppi.
According to the executive, while Brazil’s air market should grow between 3% and 5% per year, the most optimistic projections for the region point to up to 8%. “This geographical expansion allows risk diversification, cost dilution and growth with stability,” he said in an interview with Estadão/Broadcast.
Today, about 17% of Gol’s capacity is allocated on international routes. The plan is to raise this slice to 25% in five years, with higher concentration on the axis between southern Florida, USA, and southern Argentina. In this drawing, South America has a central role.
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This month, Gol returned to operate flights to Caracas (Venezuela), suspended since 2016. Although there is no final decision, Ecuador, Chile and Peru, which had the operations interrupted in the pandemic, can be considered the next most likely destinations, as the other most relevant markets in the region are already covered.
“Studies have already begun. The next window to add capacity is July next year. We evaluated if it will be in mid -2026, in December or later,” says Pongeluppi. “It is a strict process, but, by relevance, even if they do not immediately return to the mesh, they will continue to be monitored.”
Last week, Gol CEO Celso Ferrer met with Ecuador president Daniel Noboa during a visit by the politician to Brazil. Without disclosing details, the company said by note that it continuously evaluates opportunities for expansion and maintains conversations with governments in the region, including Ecuadorian.
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About a possible return to the Chilean market, headquarters of competitor Latam, Pongeluppi does not foresee friction. “When a company connects a hub to an important city, it is often seen as a natural movement, not an attack.”
