Brazilian Airline Appoints Interim Chairman Amid Leadership Transition

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.