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Vila Olímpia
05457-006 São Paulo, São Paulo
Federative Republic of Brazil
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F ______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
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registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
VRG Implements New Flight Network
São Paulo, March 24, 2008 – GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the parent company of Brazilian airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (“GTA”, Brazil’s low-cost, low-fare airline) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (“VRG”, Brazil’s premium service airline), announces VRG’s new network of domestic flights. The changes, which were initiated to broaden the Company’s presence in high traffic business markets, will improve the Company’s connectivity and distribution to several national destinations.
Planning for the new network included the recent lift of previous restrictions on connecting flights to Congonhas Airport, in São Paulo. From this airport, VRG will serve Belo Horizonte (Confins), Brasília, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro (Galeão and Santos Dumont) and Salvador.
The most significant change is the creation of a distribution hub in Brasília. As of today, customers can fly to Belo Horizonte (Confins), Fortaleza, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro (Galeão), São Paulo (Congonhas) and Salvador in direct flights from the federal capital. The number of flights to these destinations was also increased. Flights to Salvador, for example, now include three frequencies from Brasília, two from Rio de Janeiro (Galeão) and three from São Paulo (Congonhas).
“With the new hub in Brasília and the return of connections to Congonhas, VRG will be able to offer more flight options to several destinations. The Company is growing and gaining a wider national route network,” says Lincoln Amano, VRG’s commercial director. “The new network will allow the Company to increase aircraft utilization, productivity, efficiency, and flight loads in an intelligent way. Most importantly, it will allow VRG to broaden its customer services.”
Operations to Brasília and from Congonhas will primarily be carried out by Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, which have the largest space between seats in the Brazilian domestic market.
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. is the parent company of Brazilian airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (“GTA”, a low-cost, low-fare airline which operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A.
(“VRG”, a premium service airline 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 Company’s 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.
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| CONTACT: GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. | |
| Investor Relations | Media |
| Ph: (5511) 3169 6800 | Brazil & Latin America |
| E-mail: ri@golnaweb.com.br | Ph: (5511) 3169 6967 |
| Site: www.voegol.com.br/ir | E-mail: comcorp@golnaweb.com.br |
| U.S. & Europe | |
| Edelman; M. Smith and N. Dean | |
| Ph: +1 (212) 704-8196 / 704-4484 | |
| E-mail: meaghan.smith@edelman.com | |
| noelle.dean@edelman.com | |
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 GOL’s management concerning the future of the business and its continued access to capital to fund the Company’s 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 GOL’s filed disclosure documents and are, therefore, subject to change without prior notice.
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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 |
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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.