Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aéreas will suspend its fifth freedom route linking the capitals of Colombia and Argentina after just 10 months of operation.
The airline launched flights between São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) on March 31, followed by a Bogotá-Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) connection the next day. Initially operating four times weekly using Boeing 737-8 aircraft, the route was expanded to daily service in July.
However, in October, GOL filed plans to end the São Paulo-Bogotá leg starting Dec. 8. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the airline has now also filed to discontinue the Bogotá-Buenos Aires leg effective Feb. 3, 2025.
The decision will leave Avianca and Aerolíneas Argentinas as the sole operators of flights between the cities. Avianca currently offered 17 flights per week between BOG and EZE, while Aerolíneas Argentinas provides daily service between BOG and Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP).
Despite the exit, GOL intends to maintain a connection to Bogotá with the launch of a new route from Brasilia, starting on Feb. 4, 2025. The airline will offer three roundtrips per week between the cities using 737-8 equipment.
Earlier this month, GOL’s parent company Abra Group—which also owns Avianca—agreed to convert $950 million of its secured debt in the Brazilian carrier to equity as part of GOL’s strategy to exit U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Plan Support Agreement between GOL, Abra and unsecured creditors also envisages the airline dissolving up to $1.7 billion in pre-Chapter 11 debt and $850 million in other obligations.
GOL is offering some 3.13 million seats across its network during November 2024, equivalent to 81% of pre-pandemic levels. About 94% of its capacity this month is deployed on domestic routes within Brazil.
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