Brazil will require covered domestic air operators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1% from January 2027, under a national programme designed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The target will gradually rise to 10% by 2037, Data Portuaria reported.
The mandate is part of Brazil’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme (ProBioQAV), established under the Future Fuel Law of 2024 and regulated by the government in August 2026, with the involvement of the Ministries of Ports and Airports and Mines and Energy.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle compared with conventional jet fuel. The estimate accounts for emissions from raw material sourcing and fuel production through to its use in aircraft.
However, this potential reduction should be distinguished from Brazil’s mandated targets. While the 80% figure reflects the lifecycle emissions reduction achievable with SAF, the national targets specify the emission reductions that covered airlines must achieve in domestic operations compared with a fossil-fuel baseline.
The regulations allow the use of different production technologies and feedstocks, along with complementary mechanisms to meet part of the emission reduction obligations within prescribed limits. The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) will oversee certification and traceability requirements, while the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) will monitor compliance by airlines.
Daniel Longo, national secretary of civil aviation at the Ministry of Ports and Airports, said SAF could help reduce the aviation sector’s dependence on fossil fuels. He noted that wider adoption would require increased production capacity and suitable conditions for gradually integrating the fuel into airline operations.
Brazil is looking to build on its established biofuel industry to develop its SAF sector. State-owned oil company Petrobras is already producing SAF at its Duque de Caxias refinery (Reduc) in Rio de Janeiro.
In June 2026, Petrobras announced the production and commercialisation of 3,800 cubic metres of SAF made from certified soybean oil. The company has also conducted production tests at its Henrique Lage refinery (Revap) in São José dos Campos, São Paulo state.
The new mandate provides a regulatory framework for expanding SAF use in domestic aviation. Meeting the progressively higher targets, however, will depend on the availability of sustainable feedstocks, investment in production facilities and the development of reliable supply chains.
