GOL Launches UATP Corporate Card
October 21 2009 - 11:45AM
PR Newswire (US)
Card will provide customers with a globally accepted payment option
for corporate travel SAO PAULO, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas
Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (Bovespa: GOLL4 and NYSE: GOL), the
largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, announced
today that the Company has become the first airline in Latin
America to issue UATP accounts with the launch of its new GOL
Corporate Card to business customers. Accepted by more than 250
associated airlines, representing over 95% of all passenger air
travel capacity worldwide, UATP is designed to lower the cost of
sale by reducing or eliminating credit card transaction fees to
airlines. Travel agencies also benefit through UATP due to lower
credit card merchant service fees and the ability to automatically
reconcile ticket numbers to service fees via UATP's travel agency
merchant program. For corporations, the network provides a simple
and direct payment method which unlike other forms of payment,
allows them to avoid foreign currency conversion fees, annual fees
and per card fees. All UATP subscribers enjoy robust transactional
data on all air travel purchases. "UATP is a valuable tool to
strengthen GOL's position among corporations and travel agencies,
while reducing our distribution costs," says Tarcisio Gargioni,
GOL's vice-president - Marketing and Services. "This is a new way
of payment in Latin America and GOL is the first airline in the
region to become a UATP Issuer." GOL UATP subscribers will benefit
from simple enrollment, payment and reconciliation processes
combined with state-of-the-art air travel activity reports. The GOL
UATP program enhances travel expense management through detailed
information including passenger name, carrier, destination, and
other components of the travel itinerary. GOL will use UATP's new
hosted billing system and corporate portal, UATP Processing
Solutions, which allows for corporations to assign individual UATP
account numbers to specific cost centers. According to Ralph
Kaiser, president and CEO, UATP, "Adding one of the leading
low-cost, low-fare carriers like GOL to UATP's list of Issuing
airlines demonstrates how popular this payment model is, not only
in the Brazilian market, but worldwide. Corporate travelers in
South America who use the GOL Corporate Card will experience a new
level of convenience and service wherever they travel which will
enhance GOL's already stellar reputation." "By becoming an Issuer
in the UATP network, GOL adds a new option for corporate travel
payment capable of servicing the needs of corporations to include
those who prefer to book through direct channels. With the
Company's largest route network in South America, our new UATP
Corporate Card program will enable us to strengthen our
relationship with our corporate customers," added Mr. Gargioni.
More information is available at uatp.com or
http://www.voegol.com.br/INT/. About UATP UATP accounts are
accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel by
AmtrakĀ®, airlines and travel agencies worldwide. UATP accounts are
issued by: Air New Zealand (ANZFF.PK), American Airlines
(NYSE:AMR), Austrian Airlines (AUALF.PK), Continental Airlines
(NYSE:CAL), Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), Japan Airlines (JALSY.PK),
Northwest Airlines, Qantas Airways, Ltd. (QUBSF.PK), United
Airlines (NASDAQ:UAUA), and US Airways (NYSE:LCC). AirPlus
International issues the UATP-based Company Account for: British
Airways (LSE:BAY.L), Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), and Lufthansa
German Airlines. About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. GOL
Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
(NYSE:GOLNYSE:andNYSE:Bovespa:NYSE:GOLL4), the largest low-cost and
low-fare airline in Latin America, offers around 800 daily flights
to 49 destinations that connect all the important cities in Brazil
and nine major destinations in South America. The Company operates
a young, modern fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, the
safest and most comfortable of its class, with high aircraft
utilization and efficiency levels. The Company's service is
recognized as the best value proposition in the market. 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. GOL Contact Information
Investor Relations Leonardo Pereira - CFO and IRO Rodrigo Alves -
Head of IR Phone.: (55 11) 2128-4700 E-mail: Website:
http://www.voegol.com.br/ir Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/GOLInvest Corporate Communications Phone.:
(55 11) 2128-4413 c Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GOLcomunicacao
Media Relations Edelman (U.S. and Europe): M. Smith and N. Dean
Phone: 1 (212) 704-8196 / 704-4484 or DATASOURCE: Universal Air
Travel Plan (UATP) CONTACT: Investor Relations, Leonardo Pereira,
CFO and IRO, or Rodrigo Alves, Head of IR, 55-11-2128-4700, ;
Corporate Communications, 55-11-2128-4413, c ; or Media Relations,
Meaghan Smith, +1-212-704-8196, , or Noelle Dean, +1-212-704-4484,
, both of Edelman (U.S. and Europe) Web Site: http://www.uatp.com/
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