The flights will be operated on Saturdays by GOL’s VARIG brand. GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes will initially operate the flights as charters, although it has already applied for authorization from the authorities to operate scheduled service on the route.
“The new flight will increase the options for Brazilian tourists traveling to the Caribbean. In addition, we will be the only airline in the country flying between Brazil and Saint Maarten,” says Claudia Pagnano, GOL’s market vice-president.
The flights will leave Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) at 2:48 p.m. on Saturdays, with a stopover at Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO) in Manaus, from where they will depart for Saint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) at 6:10 p.m., arriving at 9:30 p.m. (All times are local.) The return flight will depart from Saint Maarten at 11:30 p.m., arriving at MAO at 2:50 a.m. and back at GRU at 8:35 a.m. on Sunday.
In addition to the normal economy service, the flights will include VARIG’s Comfort class, which offers more leg room, hot meals, individual on-board entertainment, more privacy, a 150 per cent SMILES mileage bonus, exclusive check-in facilities, and priority boarding and disembarking.
Initially, sales will be handled by tour operators with whom GOL maintains agreements.