GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE:  GOL; BM&FBOVESPA: GOLL4), the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, will launch scheduled flights to a new international destination: Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. The flights, which have already been approved by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and other competent authorities, will begin on April 3. The Company has already been flying chartered flights to Punta Cana.

“We identified substantial passenger demand for this destination, which has a strong tourist appeal. In addition to serving Brazilian holidaymakers and attracting people from Caracas, where we will begin selling flights to the Dominican Republic shortly, we will be increasing the daily utilization rate of our aircraft,” declared Leonardo Pereira, GOL’s Executive Vice President.

To begin with, flights will take place weekly on Saturdays, from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo international airports at 9 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. (local time), respectively, arriving in Caracas, Venezuela, at 3:30 p.m. (local time) for a short stop over before taking off at 4:10 p.m. (local time,) and arriving in Punta Cana at 6:15 p.m. (local time). On the return trip, the aircraft will leave the Dominican Republic at 9:00 p.m. (local time), arriving in Caracas at 10:05 p.m.(local time), before flying on to Brazil where it will arrive in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro at 10:45 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (local time), respectively.

The flights will be handled by Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft under the VARIG brand and will be equipped with the differentiated Comfort Class services which offer more space between seats, hot meals and individual on-board entertainment, as well as increased privacy, a 150% SMILES mileage bonus, an exclusive check-in counter and priority boarding and disembarking.