SAF proponents say the burgeoning industry around the alternative fuel source has further potential to bolster jobs and boost the economy, too.
However, SAF adoption is not without its hurdles. Currently, regulations only permit commercial aircraft to operate on up to 50 per cent SAF, blended with traditional jet fuel.
“Virgin Atlantic’s flight powered by 100 per cent SAF will hopefully pave the way for regulations to be updated and allow planes to fly on 100 per cent SAF versus 50 per cent SAF blend at the moment,” says Nicolas Jammes, a spokesperson for IATA.
There are also supply limitations and associated high production costs: SAFs are currently more than twice the price of standard jet fuel, and make up less than one per cent of jet fuel usage worldwide.
However, momentum is beginning to build. According to the IATA, SAF production increased 200 per cent in 2022 over 2021, reaching nearly 80 million gallons. Numerous airlines have recently signed on for new or expanded SAF initiatives, too, including United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air France-KLM, Alaska Airlines, Ryanair, among others.
Governmental policies are also helping to drive the shift. As part of its “Jet Zero” strategy, established in July 2022, the UK government intends to mandate that at least 10 per cent of jet fuel come from SAF by 2030. The European Union, meanwhile, has established a similar target of five percent by the same year. Plus, new EU legislation will soon make airlines operating within Europe pay additional fees for using traditional fossil fuels, rather than SAF.
However, some environmentalists caution that sourcing SAFs can come with its own ecological concerns. “Most so-called sustainable fuels are made from agricultural crops that either compete with food crops for land, and drive the destruction of natural ecosystems like forests,” says John Hyland, Greenpeace E.U. spokesperson.
He says that, ultimately, the best way to decarbonise aviation is to fly less. For example, some travellers have begun opting for trains instead of planes on some shorter routes. “The aviation sector has grown hugely over the last few decades, and their carbon emissions have ballooned along with that,” Hyland notes. “The industry uses the promise of ‘sustainable’ aviation fuels as an excuse to keep growing unsustainably, when the climate emergency requires a reduction in flights – starting with needless short flights and private jets.”
“For decades, flying from London to New York has symbolised aviation’s ability to connect people and drive international progress,” said UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper in a press statement. “It’s now going to be at the forefront of cutting carbon emissions from flying.” The historic flight will “pave the way for future generations,” according to Harper.
And that’s not just PR speak. “One of the things this flight reminds me of is Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic,” says Heyne, indicating that this net-zero emissions flight is poised to be a particularly significant milestone in aviation history.
