Gol Linhas Aéreas has appointed Antonio Kandir as interim chairman following the death of founder Constantino de Oliveira Junior, who passed away on January 24, 2026, after a battle with cancer. Breaking Defense reports that Kandir, previously vice chairman of Gol’s board, will lead the board’s work while the company evaluates longer-term governance arrangements. The airline confirmed that its operations and strategy remain unchanged under current leadership, but acknowledged the need for a permanent successor. Gol is part of the Abra Group, which also controls Avianca, and has been working to stabilize its balance sheet amid a challenging operating environment.