October 21, 2024 will be ed as the date of Rio Grande do Sul's comeback. Less than six months after the climate setbacks that devastated much of the state, Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre (POA) partially resumed its activities on Monday morning (21), a desire of the people of Rio Grande do Sul and all of Brazil for tourism and business activities. GOL Linhas Aéreas, the country's main airline, celebrated this moment of recovery in a special way, boarding its Customers in themed aircraft and with actions on board and upon disembarking that transformed the travel experience.
Flight G3 1210, which departed Congonhas Airport (CGH) at 7:00 a.m. and landed in Porto Alegre at 8:25 a.m., was operated with a GOL Boeing 737 800 decorated for the “Discover Brazil: Flying” initiative, created by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Ministry of Ports and Airports and Abear. The aircraft features exclusive illustrations on the outside, developed by GOL’s Creative Hub, which refer to the gaucho culture: the Ruína dos Sete Povos, located in the Parque Histórico Nacional das Missões, the beauty of the araucarias, as well as wine and chimarrão, which are so traditional in Rio Grande do Sul.
After landing the G3 1210, pilot Paulo Zancani and co-pilot Vinicius Brehm held the flags of Rio Grande do Sul and GOL alongside flight attendants and chief stewards from Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. During the flight, a celebratory speech was given: “The long-awaited moment has arrived to resume our flights to Porto Alegre. Today, the joy is as immense as our Rio Grande do Sul. We all believe that better days will come. After the floods and all the from every corner of Brazil, we are stronger and with open arms to welcome all those who embark on this destination, whether for business or to be close to these strong people who carry the local culture with all their love. Thank you for flying with GOL and have a good trip!”
During the special in-flight service, customers received Tortuguita cookies, sweet potato chips, two types of chocolates from the century-old Gaucho company Neugebauer (from 1891), as well as a variety of drinks. During disembarkation, caramel bars from the Gaucho company Prawer (from 1975), considered the first artisanal chocolate factory in Brazil, were delivered.
“Mônica 60” lands in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul
One is too few, two is great. Customers of flight G3 1214, which took off from Congonhas at 8:55 a.m. bound for Porto Alegre, where it landed at 10:30 a.m. this Monday (21), did not board a regular aircraft. The themed plane “Mônica 60”, presented in June 2023 as the result of a partnership between GOL and Mauricio de Sousa Produções (MS) to celebrate the 60th birthday of the famous character from Turma da Mônica, made the second return operation to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul a playful party, with tasty surprises.
Captain Medina and co-pilot Davi Petter, also from Rio Grande do Sul, were at the helm of flight G3 1214. Upon landing, the welcome to the Customers was given by none other than… Mônica! The speech on board highlighted the important role that Mauricio de Sousa’s character holds: “Did you know that Mônica, the Lady of the Street, is also an ambassador for tourism? It is with great joy that today we return to flying to Porto Alegre. To thank everyone who collaborated with the state of Rio Grande do Sul during a period of many challenges in recent months, the people of Rio Grande do Sul are today with open arms, welcoming Brazil and the world with great affection. GOL continues on its mission to always connect destinations and people.”
“It is a great joy to be present at this moment of tourism recovery in Rio Grande do Sul. Mônica has been a tourism ambassador since 2008, with her main mission being to encourage Brazilians to get to know the attractions of our country. Landing in Porto Alegre aboard one of the first GOL flights at the reopening of Porto Alegre International Airport is an important milestone in this mission,” said Mauro Sousa, CEO of Mauricio de Sousa Produções.
To delight customers, the special onboard service on G3 1214 was a partnership between GOL and We Coffee. Lemon tea, chive bread and Magali's Watermelon sweet were served. Each enger was given a ticket to Vila da Mônica, located in Gramado (RS), during the flight. At the end of the flight, Prawer chocolates were given out.
Air network in Porto Alegre and cargo sector
After authorization from official bodies for the return of landings and takeoffs on the runway that has been closed since the beginning of May, the Company will have an initial offer, between October 21 and 26, of up to 20 daily flights (arrivals and departures) between Porto Alegre and Congonhas (CGH), RIOgaleão (GIG) and Guarulhos (GRU).
Starting October 27, there will be an increase to up to 32 daily flights (16 landings and 16 takeoffs), of which nine (roundtrips) will be between Congonhas and Porto Alegre, three involving RIOgaleão, three to Guarulhos and one to Brasília. On December 16, GOL will increase its flight offering at Salgado Filho, with up to 38 daily flights (19 takeoffs and 19 landings) during the high summer season, including connections with Salvador (SSA).
With the resumption of flights in Porto Alegre, all operations planned for the Canoas air base (QNS) – essential to temporarily serve the capital of Rio Grande do Sul during the POA closure period – are suspended as of this Monday (21), and Customers are re-accommodated on the new flights from Porto Alegre.
Customer service, which had already been resumed at the enger Terminal of Porto Alegre airport, continues as normal at Salgado Filho: check-in must temporarily be done at GOL's international service area, but boarding will take place in the domestic sector. The expectation is that from December 16th, all check-in and boarding processes will be carried out in the domestic sector.
The resumption of activities at Salgado Filho Airport includes the operations of GOLLOG, GOL's logistics unit, at the Cargo Terminal (TECA). Renovations are being finalized for a new 402 m² space, with the aim of recovering speed, economy and agility in the transportation of parcels. In addition to operating at TECA, GOLLOG has a store in the southern region of the city of Porto Alegre and in the cities of Bento Gonçalves, Caxias do Sul, Pelotas, o Fundo and Novo Hamburgo.
Today, GOL maintains five bases in operation in the state of Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre (POA), Caxias do Sul (CXJ), o Fundo (PFB), Pelotas (PET) and Santo Ângelo (GEL).
GOL's return flight to POA, G3 1210, took place from Congonhas at 7:00 am this Monday (21). Gauchos on the crew proudly held the Rio Grande do Sul flag during boarding. From left to right, co-pilot Vinicius Brehm, flight attendant Adriano Farina and pilot Paulo Zancani (Photo: GOL Press Office)
GOL's Boeing 737 800, themed around Rio Grande do Sul, landed at 8:25 am this Monday (21) during the reopening of Salgado Filho Airport, in Porto Alegre (Photo: GOL Disclosure)
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