Brazilian low-cost carrier Gol plans to finally retire its last Boeing 737-300 next month, 20 months behind its initial schedule for phasing out the type.
Gol, which has been rapidly expanding its Boeing 737-800 fleet, first unveiled plans in early 2008 to retire its last 737-300 at the end of that year. But the phase-out has since been delayed several times in part because it took longer than expected to negotiate early returns with lessors.
Gol executive vice-president technical Fernando Rockert de Magalhães says the carrier returned two 737-300s in June, leaving it with just one 737-300. He says this aircraft is not currently part of Gol's regular schedule but is instead being used as a spare aircraft.
Rockert says Gol has come to an agreement with the aircraft's lessor to return this last remaining 737-300 in August. He says as part of the deal the aircraft will not be returned with a fresh maintenance check.
Several of Gol's 737-300s have not been returned with a fresh maintenance check as is typically the case because the owners have been parting out the aircraft or parking them in the desert rather than immediately remarketing them. Gol had 27 737-300s in its fleet at the beginning of 2008.
Gol's maintenance centre at Belo Horizonte's Confins airport is certified to work on both 737-300 and 737NG aircraft. But Rockert says it has not worked on a 737-300 since late 2008 or early 2009 and currently all eight of the facility's heavy maintenance lines are being used for 737-700/800s.
However, Rockert says Gol will retain heavy maintenance capability for the 737-300 for potential third-party customers. ATI reported last week that Gol expects to receive FAA certification of its maintenance facility by the end of next year, opening up third-party MRO opportunities outside Brazil.
Gol also operates a small fleet of 767s, a type it grounded in 2008 when it axed its entire long-haul network but reactivated early this year for charters. Gol CFO Leonardo Pereira said in a recent interview that "eventually we will be returning them. We are taking the opportunity of a very strong economy to offer the charter business."
He adds "the idea is to have it [the 767 charter operation] this year and if the economy continues strong next year we may continue offering it next year".
Pereira says Gol's new five-year business plan envisions operating a single type of aircraft. In line with this plan, the carrier for now is not considering adding a smaller aircraft such as the Embraer E-190/195. One of Gol's main competitors, Azul, currently operates E-190s and E-195s while TAM is also now looking at acquiring the type for its Pantanal subsidiary.
Pereira says having two types of aircraft complicates the low-cost business model and Gol wants to stick to its current model as it strives to offer "very competitive" fares. "The important thing is to stick to the main concepts - have a very low cost structure, have a single fleet and have a low maintenance cost," he says.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
