SAO PAULO,
Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas
Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL; Bovespa: GOLL4), the largest low-cost and low-
fare airline in
Latin America, announced today that the Company has become the
first airline in
Latin America to issue UATP accounts with the launch of its
new GOL Corporate Card to business customers.
Accepted by more than 250 associated airlines, representing over 95% of
all passenger air travel capacity worldwide, UATP is designed to lower the
cost of sale by reducing or eliminating credit card transaction fees to
airlines. Travel agencies also benefit through UATP due to lower credit card
merchant service fees and the ability to automatically reconcile ticket
numbers to service fees via UATP's travel agency merchant program. For
corporations, the network provides a simple and direct payment method which,
unlike other forms of payment, allows them to avoid foreign currency
conversion fees, annual fees and per card fees. All UATP subscribers enjoy
robust transactional data on all air travel purchases.
"UATP is a valuable tool to strengthen GOL's position among corporations
and travel agencies, while reducing our distribution costs," says Tarcisio
Gargioni, GOL's vice-president - Marketing and Services. "This is a new way
of payment in Latin America and GOL is the first airline in the region to
become a UATP Issuer."
GOL UATP subscribers will benefit from simple enrollment, payment and
reconciliation processes combined with state-of-the-art air travel activity
reports. The GOL UATP program enhances travel expense management through
detailed information including passenger name, carrier, destination, and other
components of the travel itinerary. GOL will use UATP's new hosted billing
system and corporate portal, UATP Processing Solutions, which allows for
corporations to assign individual UATP account numbers to specific cost
centers.
According to Ralph Kaiser, president and CEO, UATP: "Adding one of the
leading low-cost, low-fare carriers like GOL to UATP's list of Issuing
airlines demonstrates how popular this payment model is, not only in the
Brazilian market, but worldwide. Corporate travelers in South America who use
the GOL Corporate Card will experience a new level of convenience and service
wherever they travel, which will enhance GOL's already stellar reputation."
"By becoming an Issuer in the UATP network, GOL adds a new option for
corporate travel payment capable of servicing the needs of corporations to
include those who prefer to book through direct channels. With the Company's
largest route network in South America, our new UATP Corporate Card program
will enable us to strengthen our relationship with our corporate customers,"
added Mr. Gargioni.
About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the
largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, offers around 800
daily flights to 49 destinations that connect all the important cities in
Brazil and ten major destinations in South America and Caribbean. The Company
operates a young, modern fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, the
safest and most comfortable of its class, with high aircraft utilization and
efficiency levels. Fully committed to seeking innovative solutions through the
use of cutting-edge technology, the Company -- via its GOL, VARIG, GOLLOG,
SMILES and VOE FACIL brands -- offers its clients easy payment facilities, a
wide range of complementary services and the best cost-benefit ratio in the
market.
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.
CONTACT:
Investor Relations
Leonardo Pereira - CFO and IRO
Rodrigo Alves - Head of IR
Phone: (55 11) 2128-4700
E-mail: ri@golnaweb.com.br
Website: www.voegol.com.br/ir
Twitter : www.twitter.com/GOLInvest
Corporate Communications
Phone: (55 11) 2128-4413
E-mail: comcorp@golnaweb.com.br
Twitter : www.twitter.com/GOLcomunicacao
Media Relations
Edelman (U.S. and Europe):
M. Smith and N. Dean
Phone: 1 (212) 704-8196 / 704-4484
Emails: meaghan.smith@edelman.com or
noelle.dean@edelman.com