Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • IATA wants post-COVID-19 green recovery to embrace SAF

Aerospace

IATA wants post-COVID-19 green recovery to embrace SAF

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasised the aviation industry’s commitment to its emissions reduction goals and called for the International Energy Agency (IEA) to prioritise investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help power aviation’s contribution to the post-COVID-19 recovery.

Image copyright Shutterstock

IATA’s call comes on the eve of the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Summit which will meet virtually to debate moves toward a low-carbon future. The IEA is well placed to promote SAF production with its stakeholders both in government and in the fuel industry.

The world must 'build back better' from the COVID-19 crisis with attention focused on investment in carbon reduction technologies and in SAF, which will create jobs at this critical time and boost aviation’s progress towards its goal to cut aviation emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050.

Advertisement
ODU RT 2

Current SAF production rates are too low for aviation to reach this goal despite SAF’s proven potential and airline efforts to date:

  • SAF can cut CO2 lifecycle emissions up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel
  • SAF uses sustainable fuel sources which do not compete with food or water, or damage biodiversity.
  • Due to extensive testing and investment from airlines, SAF are certified as safe, sustainable, and ready-to-use.
  • Over 250,000 flights have already taken off with a blend of SAF.

“The enormous amounts of money that governments are investing in the economic recovery from COVID-19 are an opportunity to create a legacy of energy transition for the aviation industry. To achieve this, governments, the finance community and the fuel producers—both large and small—must work together with the goal of rapidly increasing production of affordable sustainable aviation fuel,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA estimates that current SAF production is 50 million litres annually. To reach a tipping point where the scale of production will see SAF costs drop to levels competitive with jet fuel, production needs to reach 7 billion litres or 2% of 2019 consumption.

Advertisement
ODU RT 2

“As much as airlines want to use SAF, production is well below the scale needed for prices to fall to competitive levels. Attaining the right price point is even more crucial as industry losses and debt levels rise. But if governments can use this unique time to combine a safe fiscal and regulatory framework supporting SAF production with the direct allocation of stimulus funds to SAF production, it is possible to reach the 2% tipping point in 2025. That would power greener flight, create jobs and fuel the economic recovery together,” said de Juniac.

IATA and the wider aviation community are ready to work with the IEA, governments and fuel companies to cut aviation’s emissions with SAF. “SAF is our biggest emissions reduction opportunity. The time is right to push it forward so that, together, we can achieve major carbon reductions on the way towards fossil fuel-free flight,” said de Juniac.

 

 

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation LB 1
EasyJet inaugurates new Birmingham base

Aerospace

EasyJet inaugurates new Birmingham base

18 March 2024

EasyJet has today inaugurated its newest UK base, at Birmingham Airport, the airline’s ninth UK base and first new base in the UK in more than a decade, creating 140 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and in total supporting around 1,200 jobs.

Viasat

Aerospace Space

Viasat's IFC selected by Royal Jordanian Airlines

18 March 2024

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Viasat have announced that the airline will officially make high-speed Wi-Fi a priority to enhance its future passenger experience by selecting Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution across multiple fleets.

CAE to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training for Akasa Air

Aerospace

CAE to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training for Akasa Air

18 March 2024

CAE today announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Akasa Air, to provide Boeing 737MAX pilot training at CAE’s facilities in India.

UK Future of Flight Action Plan launched

Aerospace Security

UK Future of Flight Action Plan launched

18 March 2024

Flying taxis, crime-fighting drones and critical 999 care deliveries could all be a reality by 2030 thanks to the UK Government and industry’s joint Future of Flight Action Plan, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) today.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT
Flightdeck Films delivers careers videos for L3Harris and Menzies Aviation

Aerospace

Flightdeck Films delivers careers videos for L3Harris and Menzies Aviation

18 March 2024

Flightdeck Films has announced creative partnerships with L3Harris and Menzies Aviation to help them recruit and retain top talent using video.

BA overhauls airport ground equipment at Heathrow

Aerospace

BA overhauls airport ground equipment at Heathrow

18 March 2024

British Airways is embarking on a multimillion-pound investment programme to overhaul its ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport, as part of its commitment to reducing emissions both in the air and on the ground.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT