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Industry Leaders Examine Brazil’s Evolving Aviation Landscape at ISTAT Connect São Paulo

On 2 June, ISTAT brought together key stakeholders in Brazil’s aviation market for an event hosted at Machado Meyer Advogados, focused on current and relevant discussions regarding the commercial aviation market. The gathering welcomed manufacturers, airlines, public authorities, and industry experts, with more than 70 attendees.

The opening panel of ISTAT Connect São Paulo, moderated by Priscilla Branco, senior vice president of marketing for Latin America and the Caribbean at Macquarie AirFinance, featured insights from major manufacturers: Gilberto Peralta (president of Airbus Brazil), Rafael Ferro (managing director of commercial services for Latin America and the Caribbean at Boeing) and Priscila Doro Solymossy (vice president of sales and marketing for Latin America and the Caribbean at Embraer).

The executives emphasized expectations of steady growth in aircraft demand in the short and medium term, driven by the recovery of tourism and the need to expand regional connectivity. In this context, narrowbodies are set to play a leading role, particularly on domestic routes. The panel also pointed to infrastructure challenges, both in the supply chain and at airports, which must evolve to accommodate new technologies. Finally, the manufacturers stressed that Brazil has the potential to compete with other emerging markets, provided regulatory and investment advances are made.

The discussion then shifted to the legal and judicial challenges faced by airlines, moderated by Fábio Falkenburger, partner and head of the aviation practice at Machado Meyer, with contributions from Ken Basch (Basch & Rameh), Raphael Linares (head of fleet and general counsel at Azul), Isabela Vilhena (legal manager for LATAM Airlines Brazil) and Cristiana Lapa Sarcedo (vice president of legal and compliance at GOL). Panelists highlighted how Brazil’s regulatory environment affects aircraft leasing and financing contracts, particularly due to withholding tax, and emphasized the need for greater efficiency in import and registration procedures.

The speakers advocated for stronger harmonization between Brazilian regulations and international aviation standards, underscoring the role of ANAC in enforcing the Cape Town Convention. Tax reform was mentioned as a “gray area” that still lacks clarity to provide legal certainty for the sector. They also discussed the significant costs associated with passenger and baggage litigation.

Closing the event, the Fireside Chat with André de Barros Ruttimann, head of aerospace and defense export credit from the Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES), offered a strategic perspective on financing and innovation. The bank emphasized the role of the Civil Aviation National Fund (FNAC) as a key instrument to support airlines and manufacturers, providing attractive conditions and legal security.

Initiatives to enable the use of sustainable aviation fuel in Brazil were also presented, recognized as essential for aviation’s energy transition. In addition, the discussion explored the possibility of expanding credit lines for innovative projects, including the development of eVTOLs, such as Embraer’s EVE, which represents a new frontier in air mobility.

ISTAT Connect São Paulo highlighted the importance of bringing together different aviation stakeholders to discuss practical and strategic solutions. Across sustainability, financing, and legal challenges, it became clear that Brazil has the potential to establish itself as a leading market, provided progress continues in infrastructure, regulation, and technological innovation.