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New Gol Flight Between Congonhas and Correia Pinto Marks Return of Boeing 737 to the Santa Catarina Mountains, Strengthens Voa + SC Project, Accelerates Integration of 23 Regional Airports, and Aims for Growth in Tourism and Business in Santa Catarina with More Frequencies, Connection Options, and Occupancy of Local Terminals
Gol inaugurated a new flight between Congonhas Airport in São Paulo and Correia Pinto Airport in the Santa Catarina mountains, putting the municipality back on the map of commercial aviation after ten months without regular operations. With the start of the route, Gol now has five bases in Santa Catarina and paves the way for the advancement of the Voa + SC program, aimed at regional air integration.
The first Boeing 737 from Gol landed in Correia Pinto at 14:50 and took off back to Congonhas at 15:30, inaugurating a direct link that promises to shorten trips, facilitate connections with other national destinations, and strengthen mountain tourism. For the state government, Gol’s arrival is a strategic piece in a broader airport modernization plan, attraction of investments, and expansion of the regional air network.
Gol Debuts Boeing 737 in Correia Pinto and Expands Presence in Santa Catarina
Ten months after Azul’s exit from Correia Pinto, Gol Airlines took on the role of reconnecting the Santa Catarina mountains to one of the country’s main hubs. The airport, which serves Lages and the region, will now receive regular operations from the company directly from Congonhas in São Paulo.
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With the new route, Gol reaches its fifth base in Santa Catarina, adding Correia Pinto to the airports in Florianópolis, Navegantes, Chapecó, and Joinville. Operations in Correia Pinto will be conducted with Boeing 737 aircraft, a larger model that reinforces the company’s bet on the demand potential of the mountainous region.
Flights between Correia Pinto and Congonhas are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, operating on a same-day round-trip basis.
The inaugural flight followed this pattern: landing in Correia Pinto at 14:50 and return takeoff at 15:30, ensuring a sufficient time window for boarding and disembarking with regional airport structure.
Investments in Regional Airports Prepare Ground for Voa + SC
The resumption of operations with Gol in Correia Pinto came accompanied by infrastructure improvements. During the inaugural event, the Santa Catarina government delivered revitalization works for the passenger terminal and interventions aimed at operational safety, totaling R$ 3.3 million in investments.
These works are part of a broader package. Since 2023, the state has been allocating resources to regional and municipal airports.
Only this year, the announced and formalized investments through agreements total R$ 35 million, covering cities such as Rio Negrinho, Pinhalzinho, Xanxerê, São Miguel do Oeste, Dionísio Cerqueira, and Concórdia.
According to the Secretary of Ports, Airports, and Railways, the restructuring of the terminal network is one of the pillars of the Voa + SC program.
The idea is to transform currently underutilized airports into active pieces of a network that allows regular passenger and cargo flights between different regions of Santa Catarina.
Voa + SC Aims to Integrate 23 Airports and Shorten Travel Within the State
The Voa + SC program, already submitted to the Legislative Assembly, is the state government’s bet to organize and encourage regional air transport.
The project design was developed by teams from the Secretariats of Ports, Airports and Railways, Finance, and Planning, in addition to the State Attorney General’s Office and the Civil House.
The goal is to use 23 regional airports as the basis for an internal flight network, creating faster connections between the coast, the west, and the mountains.
A frequently cited example is the Joaçaba–Florianópolis route: today, the land journey can take many hours; with a structured regional aviation, the trip could be reduced by up to six times.
The development of regional aviation is an old demand from municipalities, and Voa + SC intends to respond to this pressure with a combination of infrastructure investments, incentives for the operation of new routes, and attraction for companies like Gol and other businesses interested in regional flights.
The program’s announcement, which will be launched after the law’s approval, should detail technical requirements, counter-guarantees, and conditions for air operators to join.
Gol, by resuming operations in Correia Pinto and increasing flights in other Santa Catarina airports, positions itself as a natural candidate to occupy a relevant space in this future regional network.
Partnership with Chinese Industry and Bet on Small Regional Aircraft
In June, during an official trip to China, the governor of Santa Catarina visited a large aircraft manufacturing plant in Harbin, Asia.
There he learned about models with capacity for around 20 passengers, which can be adapted for cargo transport on short routes.
From this visit, the proposal to install an assembly line of the Chinese manufacturer in Santa Catarina emerged, with the potential to generate jobs, income, and technology in the local aviation sector.
The idea is that aircraft of this type could be used specifically in the context of Voa + SC, connecting smaller cities to airports that receive larger jets like Gol’s Boeing.
Although the negotiation involves private companies, the state government considers the project strategic. Having an industrial base for regional aircraft combined with an expanding network and the presence of companies like Gol would create a more robust ecosystem for Santa Catarina’s air transport.
PPP in Jaguaruna Shows a New Phase of Santa Catarina’s Airport Infrastructure
Another important move in Santa Catarina’s aviation agenda was the concession of Jaguaruna Airport to the private sector, formalized in June.
This is the first public-private partnership of the state government in the sector, won by the South Regional Airport Consortium, which will manage the terminal for the next 30 years.
Considering public and private contributions, the total estimated investment may exceed R$ 70 million over the contract period, including initial investment, annual compensation, and possible runway expansion. The concession aims to modernize the airport, increase capacity, and make it more attractive for airlines already operating in the region.
In terms of movement, Jaguaruna serves around 11,000 passengers per month, having closed 2024 with approximately 135,000 boardings and disembarkations.
The peak was in 2017, when the airport recorded 143,000 passengers. With the concession, the expectation is to reach an average of 188,000 passengers per year in the next cycles.
Latam, which already operates at the terminal, announced a 71% increase in seat availability by the end of this year, signaling confidence in the growth potential.
In parallel, Gol’s entry and expansion in other Santa Catarina routes helps to consolidate the state as a relevant hub in the air network of southern Brazil.
Gol Expands Flights to Florianópolis and Reinforces Network in Southern Brazil
In addition to the new route to Correia Pinto, Gol plans a significant increase in operations at the International Airport of Florianópolis in the upcoming summer season.
Between December and February 2026, the number of landings and takeoffs by the company in the capital of Santa Catarina is expected to rise from 3,240 to 3,698, an increase of 458 flights, equivalent to a growth of 14%.
In practice, this means more options for schedules and routes for those traveling for business or leisure. The seat supply will also increase: from 594,000 to 681,000 seats, about 86,000 more, an approximate increase of 15%.
The routes with increased flights connect Florianópolis to Brasília, Rio de Janeiro (Galeão), São Paulo (Guarulhos), and Buenos Aires (Aeroparque), in addition to new operations to Córdoba and Rosario, Argentina.
In total, Gol plans over 16,000 flights and 3 million seats for Southern Brazil in the season, a 17% growth compared to the previous year.
Among the highlights are the new destination in the Santa Catarina mountains, the Chapecó–Florianópolis route, and extras from Navegantes Airport, which reinforce Santa Catarina’s position as one of the company’s main markets.
New Gol Flight May Accelerate Tourism and Business in the Santa Catarina Mountains
Gol’s arrival in Correia Pinto has a direct impact on the competitiveness of the Santa Catarina mountains as a tourist destination and business hub.
Trips that previously relied on long car journeys to other airports can now be done with a direct connection to Congonhas, one of the busiest terminals in the country.
For tourism, the combination of regular flights, mountain landscapes, cooler weather, and an increasing supply of services is likely to attract visitors from São Paulo and other states that use the capital as a connection point.
Easy access through Gol increases the chance of packages, corporate events, and weekend itineraries gaining traction in the region.
From an economic standpoint, companies located in the Santa Catarina mountains now have a quicker alternative for meetings, fairs, and technical trips, reducing time away from the office and weariness from road travel.
The presence of a Gol Boeing 737 operating regularly at Correia Pinto Airport also strengthens the region’s argument with investors and new ventures.
In parallel, the Voa + SC program, the modernization of airports, and the expansion of Gol routes create a kind of “air backbone” for Santa Catarina, connecting the mountains to the coast, the west, and other states, with the potential to reorganize passenger and cargo logistics in the medium term.
Ultimately, the new Gol flight is just one piece, but a visible piece, of a larger puzzle that unites public investments, private partnerships, and a long-term strategy for regional air transport.
And you, do you intend to use this new Gol flight to explore the Santa Catarina mountains or do you still prefer to tackle the journey by road?
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