Boeing and GOL announce collaboration in Brazil

Boeing and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes are to work together to speed the research, development and approval of new sources of sustainable aviation biofuel in Brazil.

Their collaboration will support GOL's plans to use this lower-carbon jet fuel on more flights during upcoming major sporting events, including the 2014 football World Cup, and also will benefit long-term development of a new sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.

Paulo Sergio Kakinoff, CEO of GOL, and Van Rex Gallard, VP of sales for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, signed a memorandum of understanding at this year's Latin America and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders forum.

GOL plans to use sustainable biojet fuel on 200 flights during the World Cup and in 20% of its flights during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Boeing will work with GOL to identify and select the most promising feedstocks and refining technologies and will also be involved in the approval process for new fuel pathways to ensure the fuel meets safety and performance standards.

Efforts to advance an aviation biofuel industry in Brazil have been gathering momentum since GOL conducted Brazil's first commercial biofuel flight in a Boeing 737-800 powered in part by sustainable aviation biofuel made from waste cooking oil and blended by Petrobras. Since then, a collective of businesses, institutions and shareholders has announced a national effort called the Brazilian Biojetfuel Platform to establish a sustainable biojet fuel industry with research and development in several regions of the country.