Passengers of Brazil’s leading low-cost carrier can now pay for travel with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Mercado Pago, with more payment options coming soon.

CellPoint Digital, the leading provider of payment solutions to the airline and travel industries and a global pioneer of Payment Orchestration, has launched multiple digital and mobile payment methods for GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (“GOL”), beginning with Apple Pay, Google Payand Mercado Pago. CellPoint Digital has fast-tracked the deployment of these payment methods to help GOL further improve passenger experience by offering a wide range of payment methods its customers use domestically and internationally.

"Our partnership with GOL has been an important component of our growth strategy in Latin America, and we believe the airline has a bright future not only in Brazil but across the region," said Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital. "Introducing support for the payment methods passengers want, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Mercado Pago, demonstrates GOL’s commitment to meeting the needs of the market."

The Role of Alternative Payment Methods in Latin America

According to CellPoint Digital’s 2024 survey of airline payment professionals, 31% of airlines in the Latin America region are looking to invest in alternative payment methods (APMs), compared to the survey average of 22%. This is due in part to the popularity of APMs in the marketplace. For example, Mercado Pago, one of the payment methods GOL is activating, has over 50 million active users generating $50 billion in transaction volume.

Deploying new APMs is a priority initiative for many airlines like GOL that serve passengers in multiple markets that prefer alternatives to traditional credit cards. However, implementing them in all digital channels – website, mobile web, native mobile app – can be costly, IT resource-intensive and take many months, or longer, to implement. CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration solution was built specifically to address this key airline challenge.

“The success of our ongoing partnership with CellPoint Digital is attributable to their deep industry expertise and consultative approach,” said Joelmir Silvestre Baumgratz, Director of Treasury and Corporate Finance at GOL. “By offering a wide range of payment options powered by CellPoint Digital, we are reaffirming our commitment to customer service and our focus on digital capabilities, both of which strengthen our position as a leader in Latin American aviation.”

Positioning for Growth in a Dynamic Brazilian and Latin America Market

GOL is one of the premier low-cost airlines in Latin America, and the second-largest airline in Brazil, carrying 21.9 million combined domestic and international passengers in the first three quarters of 2024. At the end of 3Q24, GOL operated a total fleet of 138 Boeing 737 aircraft, and it continues to expand its international footprint with new routes planned for Brasília-Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro- Montevideo and Brasília-Buenos Aires.

“This is an important step in GOL’s journey, and we’re proud to be part of it,” added Gjerding. “We look forward to driving meaningful results together.”

For more information about the partnership between CellPoint Digital and GOL, or to schedule an interview with Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital, please contact Steven Osei at steven.osei@cellpointdigital.com.

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