Bridging Research and Action: Studies Fuel Advancement of SAF in Latin America

Latin America continues to move towards the goal of reducing aviation’s share of carbon emissions to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2050. 

In the region, Brazil became the first country to enact legislation to support the aviation decarbonisation roadmap through the use of SAF, and we have seen further regulatory progress in Chile and Colombia with SAF roadmaps. There is still  significant potential for further progress in the region, and technical studies are an effective way to move forward, providing essential scientific data that can help inform policy makers and support fuel production projects.   

MIT Study - Sustainable Decarbonization of Aviation in Latin America

Airbus and LATAM Airlines partnered with the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to conduct a techno-economic study on aviation decarbonisation solutions for aviation across six countries in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The study projects SAF costs up to 2050 by using a range of scenarios. The study was published in December 20204 on the MIT website  and  is available for the entire ecosystem.

Angelo Gurgel, one of the main research scientists at the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy (CS3) and co-author of the study,highlights that “regional feedstock availability and costs make Latin America a potential major player in SAF production” and “SAF requirements, combined with government support mechanisms, will ensure sustainable decarbonisation while improving the region’s connectivity and the ability of disadvantaged communities to access air transport”. 

Here you can find the full study

ACT-SAF feasibility studies for Argentina, Peru and Panama

Airbus and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced a significant step towards decarbonising  aviation in Latin America. During the Eighteenth Meeting of the Civil Aviation Authorities of the South American Region in São Paulo,  three ICAO ACT-SAF feasibility studies were unveiled for Argentina, Panama, and Peru.

According to Guillaume Gressin, Vice President International, Strategy and Commercial Operations for Airbus Latin America, “These technical assistance projects, under the ICAO’s ACT-SAF Programme, offer valuable opportunities for states to develop their assessments for SAF policy implementation and supply scale up”.

In a context of continued growth in activity, the decarbonisation of aviation is now more than ever a long-term challenge that requires today the contribution of all possible stakeholders. In 2025, Airbus is reinforcing its commitment with the Latin American SAF ecosystem by stimulating its three complementary pillars: Supply, Demand and Regulation.

For more information contact:

Name: Gonçalo Pimentel
Position: Airbus SAF Business Development
Email:  goncalo.pimentel@airbus.com