GOL

Boeing has partnered with Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes to speed-up the research, development and approval of new sources of sustainable biofuel in Brazil’s aviation industry.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding for biofuel collaboration during the Latin America and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum 2013.

The partnership will support the airline’s aim to use biofuel on more flights ahead of upcoming major sporting events, while assisting the long-term development of a sustainable aviation biofuel sector in Brazil.

"Boeing’s focus on fuel efficiency helps us all operate in a more sustainable fashion, and the expansion of our partnership with this new project will further advance the effort to expand biofuel use in Brazil."

GOL chief executive officer Paulo Kakinoff said: "Boeing’s focus on fuel efficiency helps us all operate in a more sustainable fashion, and the expansion of our partnership with this new project will further advance the effort to expand biofuel use in Brazil."

GOL aims to use sustainable biojetfuel on 200 flights during the major sporting event in Brazil in 2014, as well as incorporate biofuel into 20% of its flights during the sporting event taking place in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Under the partnership, Boeing will work with the carrier to identify and select the capable feedstocks and refining technologies, and will play a vital role in the approval process for new fuel pathways in order to ensure that the fuel complies with safety and performance standards.

In October this year, GOL carrieried out Brazil’s first commercial biofuel flight in a Boeing 737-800 partly powered by sustainable aviation biofuel that is made from waste cooking oil and blended by Petrobras, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Image: GOL’s Boeing 737-700 aircraft. Photo: courtesy of OS2Warp.

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