Delta's Brazilian Partner GOL Picks Up a Lot of New 737s

Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL announced at the Farnborough air show on Monday that it ordered 30 737 MAX 10 and 15 737 MAX 8, which will make it the largest operator of the 737 MAX in Latin America. Delta Airlines owns 9% of the carrier; flyers can actually earn and redeem SkyMiles with GOL.

The ambitious airline is reportedly launching the world's longest 737 service between Florida and Brazil, with the Orlando to Brasilia nonstop coming in at 3,778 miles. The MAX 10 can squeeze in 230 passengers in a single-class configuration over those long ranges, a reason low-cost carriers such as Ryanair frequently refer to the MAX aircraft as a "game changer". The aircraft will have the lowest cost per seat mile in single-aisle jet market, Boeing says. You can expect to fly on one of those new 737s on the new GOL services from Florida, which begin in November.

The order will convert 30 737 MAX 8 aircraft already on order to MAX 10 aircraft, which values that portion of the deal at $384M on top of the $1.756B purchase of MAX 8 (each at list prices, factoring the conversion). With the purchase of GOL will have a total 135 MAX jets on order, with a view to flying a younger fleet.

"This new order aligns with our strategic policy of reducing operating costs by operating a standardized fleet. We are confident that the 737 MAX 10 will offer significant competitive advantages for GOL and enable us to continue to modernize with new aircraft. This airplane will allow us to continue lowering the cost of air travel across Brazil, as well as support a larger network, allowing us to add new destinations," said Paulo Kakinoff, Chief Executive Officer of GOL, in a release.

GOL took delivery of its first 737 MAX airplane last month. The orders will continue to be delivered through until 2028.