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GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. News
VRG Redefines its Business Strategy
SAO PAULO, Brazil, Jan. 29 PRNewswire-FirstCall — GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the parent company of Brazilian airlines GOL Transportes Aereos S.A. ("GTA", Brazil's low-cost, low- fare airline) and VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. ("VRG", Brazil's premium service airline), today announced changes in VRG's business strategy. The measures, which will optimize the Company's route network, aim at improving efficiency and the quality of services.
Domestically, a new route network was conceived in order to provide business customers with adequate schedules and frequency. The new network will connect the most important business and tourism centers, benefiting from the return of connections at Congonhas Airport. The Company recently launched operations of several new routes — Porto Alegre-Brasilia, Belo Horizonte (Confins)-Rio de Janeiro (Galeao) and Belo Horizonte (Confins)-Brasilia — all of which will be operated by Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. "By year- end, our goal is to replace our fleet of Boeing 737-300s with the more modern, efficient, economic and comfortable Boeing 737-700s and 737-800s," says Murilo Barbosa, VRG's marketing director.
Additionally, beginning in March the Company will focus its long haul services from Brazil to Europe on two destinations, offering connections to other cities through partner airlines. VRG will operate direct flights with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, where it keeps an interline agreement with Air France-KLM, and Madrid's Barajas International Airport, where it has a code share with Air Europa and an interline agreement with Iberia. VRG will cease operations of direct flights to London as of March 1 and Frankfurt and Rome on March 29. VRG customers will be able to travel from Brazil to the most important destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East through the partner airlines mentioned.
Customers holding purchased tickets to the suspended destinations may obtain additional information at VRG's corporate site (www.varig.com) and the Smiles rewards program website (www.smiles.com.br).
The Company will continue daily operations to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico, and plans to launch flights to the USA in 2008. Routes to Mexico and Chile are currently operated by Boeing 767 aircraft and, soon, the same will apply for Colombia and Venezuela. The objective is to offer service with more comfort and an executive class.
Investor Relations (5511) 3169 6800 ri@golnaweb.com.br www.voegol.com.br/ir Media (5511) 3169 6967 comcorp@golnaweb.com.br Edelman; G. Juncadella and M. Smith +1 (212) 704-4448 / 704-8196 gabriela.juncadella@edelman.com; meaghan.smith@edelman.com
SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
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