30 Jun 2018

GOL ANNOUNCE THE START OF OPERATIONS ON THE SÃO PAULO – QUITO ROUTE

Corporación Quiport, concessionaire of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport and the Brazilian airline, agreed that the new route that will open in December 2018 with three weekly flights.

Brazilian airline GOL announced the start of its new direct route between the cities of São Paulo and Quito, with three weekly flights, starting in December 2018. The announcement was made by the airline on Friday June 29, 2018 and is the result of several months of discussions and planning involving the airline, the Central Government, the Municipality of Quito and Corporación Quiport as concessionaire of Mariscal Sucre Airport.

The airline will operate the new route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using new generation aircraft Boeing 737 MAX 8. These aircraft are characterized by being more efficient and are ideal for this route.

“The new route is part of GOL’s international expansion strategy; starting in December we expanded GOL’s operations to 10 countries in South America, the Caribbean and the United States. Flights to Quito complement the destinations we already offer, and make possible the connectivity of our Ecuadorian clients with the 700 daily flights of our company and other operations of associated airlines, “states the Vice President of Planning of GOL, Celso Ferrer.

For the Minister of Tourism of Ecuador, Enrique Ponce De León, the arrival of this important airline to Ecuador means connecting two countries that have much to share in tourism. “We are grateful for the trust in our country and we are sure it will be a successful operation. We show our absolute willingness to generate joint promotion strategies, promoting Ecuador as a destination in Brazil thanks to this new route. The Ministry of Tourism is here to support them, “said the high official.

Jessica Alomía, Deputy Secretary of Civil Aviation Transport of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works said that “the Ministry of Transport and Public Works extends the most cordial welcome to GOL airlines in its upcoming start of operations in Ecuador, and at the same time, reaffirms our total commitment to support this new strategic partner providing the optimal conditions for the development of its operation, which we are sure will strengthen the country’s air connectivity. We wish GOL success in his new operation.”

The talks between GOL and Quiport made a decisive breakthrough during Routes Americas 2018, the largest continental-scale route development event that took place in Quito last February. “Welcome GOL to Quito!”, with these words Álvaro Maldonado, Secretary of Productive Development and Competitiveness of the Municipality of Quito, received the news and added that “this new destination with its three weekly frequencies non-stop to São Paulo, connects us in a more efficient way to one of the most important destinations and markets of the region. It represents more tourism, more business, more connectivity and more competitiveness. ”

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, explains that this is a great opportunity to increase the connectivity of the Ecuadorian capital. “This is the result of a joint effort between the public and private sectors working hand in hand to create the right conditions for GOL to decide to open the route. Our strategy of route development, coupled with the policy of open skies supported by the Government and the promotion of the city that develops the Municipality of Quito have achieved this new milestone,” concluded Mr. O’Brian.