Boeing

Boeing last Friday delivered the first of four brand new Boeing 737-700 airplanes to GOL Airlines (GOL Transportes Aereos) of Brazil.

GOL has successfully positioned itself as a low-fare, no-frills regional carrier since it began revenue service in January. The airline operates an all-Boeing fleet consisting of six 737-700s. GOL will operate its newest airplane through a lease with Boullioun Aviation Services Inc. of Bellevue, Wash., one of the world's top operating lessors.

GOL currently flies six 737-700s. The airline will take delivery of three more 737-700s by the end of the year, making it the largest operator of Next-Generation 737s in Latin America.

"The 737-700's performance has been excellent," said Constantino Oliveira, Jr., CEO of GOL Airlines. "We're seeing the fuel efficiency and reliability that we expected when we chose the 737-700 for our fleet. We're very excited to incorporate this newest airplane into our fleet."

The 737-700s in GOL's fleet achieved 100 percent technical dispatch reliability in their first month of operation earlier this year. Each airplane in GOL's fleet makes 10 to 12 flights a day - a high volume that requires quick, dependable turnarounds.

"The 737-700 is well suited to consistently meet GOL's ambitious cost targets and schedule commitments," said Daniel da Silva, vice president of Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

GOL's Brazilian destinations include Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Florianopolis, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife and Campinas.