Brazilian airline company Gol announced the results of a survey of passengers flying the airline’s Brazil-Argentina route. Eighty-three percent of Argentine passengers flying Gol said they were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the airline’s services.
The survey confirms Gol’s success in the Argentine market after just eight months of operations; Buenos Aires was Gol’s first international destination.
The results of the survey reveal high brand loyalty, as 92 percent of respondents said that they would fly on Gol again and 89 percent would recommend the airline to others. The survey also found that 62 percent of Argentines prefer to fly Gol.
The survey was developed by Databrain Pesquisas Inteligentes, and was completed by 1,400 Gol passengers during their flight on the Brazil-Argentina route between April and July of this year.
Fifty-six percent of respondents were Argentine and 40 percent were Brazilian; the remaining four percent were passengers from other countries.
Half of the passengers flying this route were leisure passengers, 30 percent were business travelers, and 11 percent were flying for other reasons.
For 82 percent of the Argentine passengers, the flight between the two countries was their first experience with Gol and the majority of respondents, 89 percent, were motivated to try the airline because of its low fares.
Fifteen percent of respondents were initially attracted to Gol because of its reputation for high quality service and the ease by which tickets can be purchased.
“The results of this survey prove that Gol’s business model can also be successful in other South American countries and confirm that the region provides a prime opportunity for the expansion of the Company’s operations,” said Tarcísio Gargioni, vice president of Gol’s Marketing and Services.
According to Brazil’s DAC (Departamento de Aviação Civil, Civil Aviation Department), July occupancy rates for the Argentine flights were at 85 percent and the average in the first seven months were 70 percent. Gol operates two daily flights from São Paulo to Buenos Aires.
Gol, a “low-cost, low-fare” airline, is one of the most profitable and fastest growing airlines in the industry worldwide. Gol operates a simplified fleet with a single class of service.
It also has one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry that results in low maintenance, fuel and training costs, with high aircraft utilization and efficiency ratios.
In addition, safe and reliable services, which stimulate Gol’s brand recognition and customer satisfaction, allow Gol to have the best value proposition in the market.
Gol currently offers over 360 daily flights to 42 major business and travel destinations in Brazil and Argentina, with substantial expansion opportunities.
In 2005, Gol plans to grow by increasing frequencies in existing markets and adding service to additional markets in both Brazil and other high-traffic South American travel destinations.
Gol listed its shares on the NYSE and the Bovespa in June 2004.
Gol – www.voegol.com.br