PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
Jardim Aeroporto
04630-000 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
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ______ No ___X___
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
GOL’s Revenue Increases 186 Percent on Argentina Routes in 2006
Sao Paulo, March 19, 2007 – GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), Brazil’s low-cost, low-fare airline, ended 2006 with a 186 percent increase in revenue on its Argentinean routes -- from R$ 50.8 million in 2005 to R$ 145.2 million last year -- and represented approximately four percent of GOL’s total sales in 2006. Approximately 375,000 tickets were sold in 2006 for flights between Brazil and Argentina, up 128 percent from 165,000 in 2005.
”GOL’s successful operations in Argentina demonstrate the strong demand for high quality air transportation and accessible fares in South America,” says Tarcisio Gargioni, Vice president of Marketing and Services at GOL. Flights to Argentina, GOL’s first international destination, began in December 2004, with just two daily flights to Buenos Aires.
The success of the initiative led the Company to expand of the number of destinations served in Argentina: flights to Cordoba, the second-largest city in Argentina, and Rosario, began in January 2006. Currently, GOL operates 56 flights per week-- eight flights a day-- to Buenos Aires. The Company offers six flights per week (available daily except Saturdays) to Cordoba, and four flights per week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) to Rosario.
In September 2006, GOL launched flights from Buenos Aires to Santiago, Chile, offering three daily flights between the two cities. The Company also began flights from Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay, in December 2006, operating one daily flight between the two Mercosul capitals. On February 14, GOL began daily flights from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Lima, Peru, via Santiago, Chile, connecting three important South American cities.
Strong revenue growth attests to increased demand for, and satisfaction with, GOL’s services. A customer survey of GOL’s passengers flying to and from Argentina last year found that 28 percent considered GOL their preferred airline, and 54 percent would recommend the airline to their friends, relatives and co-workers.
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes is one of the most profitable and fastest growing low-cost, low-fare airlines in the industry worldwide. GOL provides frequent service on routes connecting all of Brazil’s major cities as well as primary
destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru through its more than 630 daily flights to 56 major airports. GOL offers daily flights to more destinations in Brazil than any other domestic airline while providing customers
with the most convenient flight schedules in the country. GOL operates a young, modern fleet of Boeing 737s, 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 service, which stimulates GOL’s brand recognition and customer satisfaction, the Company’s single class of service is recognized as the best value proposition in the market. GOL’s
growth plans include increasing frequencies in existing markets and adding service to additional markets in both Brazil and other high-traffic South American travel destinations. GOL shares are listed on the NYSE and the Bovespa. GOL: here everyone
can fly!
For more information, flight times and fares, please access our site at www.voegol.com.br or call: 0300-789-2121 in Brasil, 0810-266-3131 in Argentina, 800-1001-21 in Bolivia, 0004 055 127 in Uruguay, 009 800 55 1 0007 in Paraguay, 1 888 0042 0090 or 1230 020 9104 in Chile, 0800 52 900 in Peru and 55 11 2125-3200 in other countries.
CONTACT: GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
| Investor Relations | Corporate Communications | |
| Ph: (5511) 3169 6800 | Ph: (5511) 3169 6449 | |
| E-mail: ri@golnaweb.com.br | E-mail: rcorbioli@golnaweb.com.br | |
| Site: www.voegol.com.br/ir | ||
| Media – Brazil & Latin America | Media – U.S. & Europe | |
| MVL Comunicação; D. Barbará and E. | Edelman; G. Juncadella and M. Smith | |
| Oliveira | Ph: +1 (212) 704-4448 / 704-8196 | |
| Ph: (5511) 3049-0349 / 0341 | E-mail:gabriela.juncadella@edelman.com | |
| E-mail: daniela.barbara@mvl.com.br; | meaghan.smith@edelman.com | |
| eduardo.oliveira@mvl.com.br | ||
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.
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.