SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of July, 2007
(Commission File No. 001-32221) ,
GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
GOL INTELLIGENT AIRLINES INC.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Rua Gomes de Carvalho 1,629
Vila Olímpia
05457-006 São Paulo, São Paulo
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Address of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F ______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ______ No ___X___
If "Yes" is marked, indicated below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
GOL Rated Best Performing Airline in 2006
by Aviation Week & Space Technology
São Paulo, July 17, 2007 –GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4), the parent company of Brazil’s low-cost airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (“GTA”, that operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (“VRG”, that operates the VARIG brand), was again rated the best performing airline in the world among companies in the same revenue category, between US$ 1 billion and US$ 4 billion, according to a report published byAviation Week & Space Technology (AWST).
According to the magazine’s criteria, GOL scored 93 out of 99 possible points, up nearly 7 percent from last year’s total score of 87.Aviation Week takes into account a company’s return on invested capital (ROIC), earning power, operating performance and financial health; each category represents 25 percent of a company’s overall score. GOL’s scores in each category are included below.
Total Score | ROIC | Earning Power | Operating Performance | Financial Health | 2006 Revenue (US$ mm) |
93 | 99 | 89 | 83 | 91 | 1,778 |
“We are pleased to be recognized byAWST as not only the best performing airline in our revenue class, but also one of the best in the world for the second year in a row,” says Constantino de Oliveira Junior, President and CEO of GOL. “Our higher total score this year is a result of our business model, company-wide focus on low-costs and commitment to delivering high quality service.”
TheAWST report appears in the July 16 issue of the publication. Full results are available online at www.aviationweek.com/extras.
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. is the parent company of low-cost airlines GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (“GTA”, which operates the GOL brand) and VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (“VRG”, which operates the VARIG brand). GTA and VRG offer daily flights to more destinations in Brazil than any other domestic airline while providing customers with the most convenient flight schedules in the country. The airlines operate a young, modern fleet of Boeing aircraft, the safest and most comfortable aircraft of its class, with low maintenance, fuel and training costs, and high aircraft utilization and efficiency ratios. In addition to safe and reliable services, which stimulate brand recognition and customer satisfaction, the Company’s service is recognized as the best value proposition in the market. Growth plans include increasing frequencies in existing markets and adding service to additional markets in both Brazil and other high-traffic travel destinations. Shares are listed on the NYSE (GOL) and the Bovespa (GOLL4) stock exchanges.
GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. offers over 630 daily flights to 58 destinations connecting the most important cities in Brazil as well as the main destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. For more information on GOL flight times and fares, please access www.voegol.com.br or call: 0300-115-2121 in Brazil, 0810-266-3131 in Argentina, 800-1001-21 in Bolivia, 1 888 0042 0090 or 1230 020 9104 in Chile, 009 800 55 1 0007 in Paraguay, 0800 52 900 in Peru, 0004 055 127 in Uruguay and 55 11 2125-3200 in other countries.
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VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. offers over 120 daily flights to 12 destinations in Brazil: Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Fernando de Noronha, Florianópolis, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. VRG also offers 18 daily flights to four international destinations in South America and Europe: Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Caracas, in South America and Frankfurt, in Europe. For more information on VRG flight times and fares, please access www.varig.com.br or call: 4003-7000 in Brazil, 54 11 4329 9211 in Buenos Aires (Monday - Friday), 0810 32182744 in other areas of Argentina (Monday - Friday), or 54 11 5480 8017 9 in all areas of Argentina (Saturday - Sunday and Holidays), 57 1 350 7100 in Colombia, 44 207 660 0341 in England, 33 1 70 48 00 58 in France, 39 023 859 1250 in Italy, 34 91 754 7014 in Spain and 1 800
CONTACT: GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
| | |
Investor Relations | | Corporate Communications |
Ph: (5511) 3169 6800 | | Ph: (5511) 3169 6967 |
E-mail:ri@golnaweb.com.br | | E-mail: |
Site:www.voegol.com.br/ir | | comunicacaocorporativa@golnaweb.com.br |
|
Media – Brazil & Latin America | | Media – U.S. & Europe |
MVL Comunicação; D. Barbará and E. | | Edelman; G. Juncadella and M. Smith |
Oliveira | | Ph: +1 (212) 704-4448 / 704-8196 |
Ph: (5511) 3049-0349 / 0341 | | E-mail:gabriela.juncadella@edelman.com; |
E-mail:daniela.barbara@mvl.com.br; | | meaghan.smith@edelman.com |
eduardo.oliveira@mvl.com.br | | |
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the prospects of the business, estimates for operating and financial results, and those related to growth prospects of GOL. These are merely projections and, as such, are based exclusively on the expectations of GOL’s management concerning the future of the business and its continued access to capital to fund the Company’s business plan. Such forward-looking statements depend, substantially, on changes in market conditions, government regulations, competitive pressures, the performance of the Brazilian economy and the industry, among other factors and risks disclosed in GOL’s filed disclosure documents and are, therefore, subject to change without prior notice.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: July 17, 2007
GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A. |
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By: | /S/ Richard F. Lark, Jr.
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| Name: Richard F. Lark, Jr. Title: Executive Vice President – Finance, Chief Financial Officer |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will a ctually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.