CANCUN, Mexico, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA]
and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (BM&FBOVESPA: GOLL4 and
NYSE: GOL) will 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 and also will benefit
long-term development of a new sustainable aviation biofuel
industry in Brazil.
Paulo Sergio Kakinoff, chief executive officer of GOL, and
Van Rex Gallard, vice president of
Sales for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, signed
a memorandum of understanding for biofuel collaboration at the
Latin America and Caribbean Air
Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum 2013.
"Because of its continuous improvements in technology that
result in ever-lower fuel consumption, the Boeing Next Generation
737 is the only airplane that GOL flies," said Paulo Kakinoff,
chief executive officer for GOL. "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. It also will serve as an example to
the world of what is possible today and in years to come."
"Boeing is very pleased to work with GOL on this key project to
advance the use and availability of biofuels," said Gallard. "As
Brazil's leading low-cost carrier, GOL is showing great leadership
in its efforts to conduct lower-carbon flights."
GOL plans to use sustainable biojetfuel on 200 flights during
the major sporting event in Brazil
in 2014 and to incorporate biofuel into 20 percent of its flights
during the major sporting event taking place in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Boeing will work with
GOL to identify and select the most promising feedstocks and
refining technologies and then will play a leading role in the
approval process for new fuel pathways to ensure the fuel meets
safety and performance standards.
The agreement between Boeing and GOL is a significant new step
in efforts to advance an aviation biofuel industry in Brazil. On Oct.
23, Brazil's Aviator's Day,
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, with support from the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB). Following the flight, aviation industry
stakeholders including GOL and Boeing, as well as Brazilian
officials and research institutions, announced a national effort
called the Brazilian Biojetfuel Platform to establish a sustainable
biojetfuel industry with research and development in several
regions of the country. If the Platform is successful, Brazil, which has already established a
biofuel industry could be the first nation to establish a
sustainable aviation biofuel industry from biomass production to
flight.
Contact:
Jim Proulx
Boeing International Sales Communications
+1 206 850-2102
jim.proulx@boeing.com
Marcus De Barros Pinto
GOL: Brazil Communications
+55 11 9.8699.8085
Jessica Kowal
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Environment Communications
+1 206 660 6849
jessica.m.kowal@boeing.com
SOURCE Boeing
