First commercial airline flight using biofuel takes place in Brazil

Gol airlines reports one of its planes covered the Sao Paulo-Brasilia route using biofuel, a first for Brazil's aviation industry.

The flight took place on 23 October to mark Day of the Aviator in the South American country.

The Boeing plane flew from Sao Paulo's Congonhas Airport to Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek Airport in the country's capital.

Bio-kerosene, the fuel used on the flight, can cut emissions of CO2 by up to 80%, a Gol spokesperson says, adding that the airline plans to use the biofuel on 200 routes during the 2014 World Cup.

Day of the Aviator honours Brazilian pilot Santos Dumont, who made his first flight 107 years ago in a plane he built in France.

Fuel accounts for 43% of the cost of air fares in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Airline Association.

'More public policies' are needed to promote the use of this technology and reduce the cost of fuel, says Gol CEO Paulo Kakinoff.

The biofuel was developed by the Brazilian unit of US-based biochemicals and biofuels company Amyris.