Brazil carrier GOL has cancelled 34 737 MAX orders from Boeing and reached agreement on an unspecified amount of cash compensation from the US airframe maker.
In the first quarter of 2019, the unexpected grounding of the 737 MAX by regulatory agencies worldwide, including the FAA, the EASA and the ANAC, resulted in seven (7) of GOL’s operational 737 MAX aircraft being grounded, and the non-delivery of 25 737 MAX aircraft scheduled for 2019. This grounding adversely impacted GOL’s operations, growth and fleet renewal plan.
After negotiations both firms reached an agreement that sees GOL receive cash compensation the Company and the termination of 34 orders, reducing the Brazilian carrier’s remaining firm orders for 737 MAX aircraft from 129 to 95.
Since its founding nearly twenty years ago, GOL has operated a single fleet of Boeing aircraft and is one of Boeing’s largest customers for the 737 family globally and to date has received and operated over 250 Boeing 737 aircraft, and the company’s chief executive Paulo Kakinoff, said that despite the MAX issue this partnership would continue.
“GOL remains fully committed to the 737 MAX as the core of its fleet and this agreement further enhances our successful long-term partnership with Boeing,” said Kakinoff.