Aruba and Brazil Connected via GOL Airlines from São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU)
ORANJESTAD – GOL Airlines inaugurated its first flight directly from São Paulo – Guarulhos on December 18, 2024.
An Aruban delegation attended a ceremony to commemorate this unique and important occasion for Aruba's tourism at São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport.
Representatives from GOL Airlines, including Danilo Barizan – Commercial Director, and Rafael Araujo – Director of Planning, as well as Wieneke Vullings – Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Brazil, joined the Aruban delegation consisting of Ronella Croes – CEO of A.T.A., Sanju Luidens – CMO of A.T.A., Jordan Schlipken – Director of A.T.A. LATAM, Andrew Hoo – Director of Immigration Aruba, and Carlos Barbosa – A.T.A. Brazil, to commemorate this historic occasion.
The inaugural flight G3 7716 strengthens cultural and economic ties between Brazil and Aruba. The new direct route reduces travel time between Brazil and Aruba to just six and a half hours. It is scheduled for three weekly flights with the Boeing 737-8 MAX, which can carry 176 passengers. It makes Aruba the most accessible Caribbean island for Brazilian travelers from the São Paulo market. Aruba is a popular Caribbean destination for Brazilian visitors. With this flight, the Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) anticipates significant growth in the specific Brazilian market, further cementing Aruba’s position as the preferred destination for Brazilian travelers.
Aruba continues to strengthen its presence in the Latin American market, with projections to welcome approximately 182,838 visitors from this region by the end of 2024, representing an additional 39% increase compared to 2023. Thanks to a successful diversification strategy, the Brazilian market has achieved an average annual growth of 25% since 2014, rising to 54% over the past three years.
Brazilian visitors are known for having a higher spending pattern than many other markets. According to the most recent Visa credit card study, Brazilians spend an average of $685 per day per person using credit cards during their stay in Aruba, making them the third-highest spending market on the island, after Chile and the United States.
With the Colombian market established, the new route between São Paulo, Brazil, and Aruba will continue to support an increase in Latin America’s market share, rising from 8% of total visitors in 2014 to an estimated 14% in 2024. Along with these visitors, Aruba will continue to attract more markets with higher spending patterns, compared to others.
GOL Airlines’ new connection is part of a broader expansion in Latin American aviation. By 2025, 305,000 seats will be available for flights between Aruba and the region.