GOL Resumes The World’s Longest Boeing 737 MAX Flight

The world’s non-stop longest Boeing 737 MAX flight was resumed on Friday when Brazil’s GOL began flying between Brasilia International Airport (BSB) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s investigate further.

Back in Orlando

The last time flights G37602 and G37601 by GOL between Brasilia and Orlando were operated was on March 21, 2020. Back then, GOL flew the route onboard a Boeing 737-800 and had a stopover in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic. The Federal Aviation Administration hadn’t recertified the MAX family; therefore, GOL was unable to use it.

Yesterday, GOL resumed this route employing its Boeing 737 MAX fleet. The flight was operated onboard a MAX 8 aircraft registration PR-XMF, according to data provided by FlightRadar24.com.

GOL will now operate four weekly frequencies between the two cities. This route is the longest operated non-stop by a MAX aircraft, surpassing the previous one, also operated by GOL between Brasilia and Cancún (CUN). The distance between Brasilia and Orlando is 3,778 miles, and between Brasilia and Cancún is 3,663 miles (over 6,079 kilometers). The flight lasts over seven and a half hours.

Luis Teixeira, GOL’s Commercial Manager for International Markets said,

"Florida is a tourism paradise not only for Brazilians but also for many Americans. Orlando is known as the Fun Capital of the World and will again be a destination for our customers. GOL's presence in both Orlando and Miami promises to shorten the distance between the United States and Brazil increasingly.”

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying.

Partnerships with Universal and American Airlines

To promote Orlando as a destination (and Florida overall), GOL has strong partnerships with Universal Studios and American Airlines.

American invested heavily in GOL last year and recently strengthened their loyalty programs. By resuming services in Orlando (and also flying to Miami), GOL’s customers will enjoy connectivity to other destinations across the United States via American Airlines.

Universal Studios organized a press trip with GOL carrying journalists and influencers to promote the destination among the Brazilian people. Luis Texeira added,

"GOL is a partner company of the city of Orlando and Visit Orlando, which represents all the parks and attractions that the location offers. For the resumption of this important international route, Universal wanted to team up with GOL and support us in this press trip with journalists and influencers. We are very happy and excited to be able to provide these people with a tour to one of the most visited parks in Orlando."

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GOL has a fleet of 34 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Photo: Getty Images.

Next route to be activated: Miami

On Monday, GOL will resume another direct flight to Florida. The airline will begin four weekly flights between Brasilia and Miami, which is one of American Airlines’ most important hubs.

The distance between both cities is 3,599 miles, which would be the third-longest MAX route currently active worldwide.

Both routes will have daily flight frequencies starting in July. They will be operated with the most modern aircraft in GOL's fleet, the Boeing 737 MAX, which, in international configuration, has a capacity for 176 passengers. Today, the Brazilian airline has 34 MAX aircraft in operation, a number that should reach 44 by the end of this year.

Would you like to be onboard a narrowbody aircraft for more than seven and a half hours? Let us know your comments below.

Source: FlightRadar24.com, Cirium.