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not airports or alternative energy investors, who are pushing tional flights; it will be mandatory from 2027,
the development of biofuels forward. Interestingly, all of these but over 60 states have already adopted the
fuels can be used in aircraft without any changes in the current scheme on a voluntary basis, starting in 2021
system. “We don’t have to modify our engines, we don’t have to through to 2026.
change the planes, we don’t have to change the infrastructure
at the airport to use this biofuel, which makes it a lot easier to This commitment to putting sustainability
implement as well,” says Aaron Robinson, senior manager for at the forefront was reinforced by the IATA
environmental strategy and sustainability at United. “These bio- who is urging governments to support and
fuel producers just become another fuel supplier for the airlines.” accelerate the production and deployment
of sustainable aviation fuels.
Saving the Environment
irlines have also started reckoning that alternative fuels IATA chief executive and managing
will help them keep their collective promise to cut net director Alexandre de Juniac,
carbon-dioxide emissions to half of their 2005 levels “We want 1 billion passengers to
Aby 2050. With airlines accounting for two per cent of have flown on a Sustainable Aviation
annual carbon emissions, aviation’s environmental impact has Fuel or SAF-blend flight by 2025.
become a top issue for executives and regulators -- spurring That won’t be easy to achieve. We
interest in affordable fuel substitutes. A recent report created need governments to set a frame-
by the Energy Transitions Commission found that airlines, along work to incentivize production of
with other industries that have particularly difficult climate chal- SAF and ensure it is as attractive to
lenges, can feasibly reach net zero emissions by the middle of produce as automotive biofuels.”
the century, using bio fuels.
Biofuels are indeed essential for reducing
“The aviation sector has worked through international regulatory the carbon emissions of the aerospace
bodies to establish one common regulation over aviation CO2 industry. At the moment, the average level of
emissions globally,” Brandon Nelson, JetBlue general counsel, CO2 emissions varies between 114 g of CO2
says. “In 2023, airlines will be required to offset a portion of their equivalent per km for long-haul flights and
CO2 emissions for international flying through market-based 260 g of CO2 equivalent per km for short-
measures.” In 2016 International Civil Aviation Organisation haul flights. Biofuels can cut this by as much
(ICAO) signed up to a global scheme that will require aircraft as 80 per cent, IATA says. It’s certainly worth
operators to manage their carbon footprint by offsetting CO2 supporting biofuel adoption, then, at least
emissions. The Carbon Offsetting Scheme for International from an environmental point of view.
Aviation (CORSIA) monitors the emission levels on interna-

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