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Asian Airlines Group Targets 5 Per Cent SAF By 2030
By Geoffrey Thomas journey towards carbon capacity growth was a slower
neutrality.” 130%.”
The Association of Asia He added that “a harmonised Menon said that China is the
Pacific Airlines has pledged global framework that enables last market to reopen.
to work together to strive for a the cost-effective supply of “Before COVID-19, China
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) SAF is crucial for aviation to was the largest market
utilisation target of 5 per cent attain its net zero emissions accounting for a fifth of Asia
by 2030. goal by 2050. Pacific’s international travel.
The airlines disclosed their “By highlighting their collec- This is now 10% in 2023.
collective ambition, at the 67th tive ambition on SAF usage, “China’s air travel demand is
AAPA Assembly of Presidents AAPA airlines are indicating growing at around 1000%, but
meeting in Singapore on the level of SAF demand as it is still at 34% of 2019 levels.
Friday, November 10. an impetus for governments to
consider the necessary sup-
“Air travel demand in India is
The AAPA Director General port initiatives for SAF supply, 20% above 2019 levels and
Subhas Menon said that “as and for fuel producers to plan the World Travel and Tourism
post-pandemic global traffic SAF production capacity, to Council noted, Indian travel is
recovers,
meet the needs of the industry.
set to become a $15.5 trillion
“ that air travel is now truly industry in 2033.
At the AGM M-Menon said
The return of Chinese travel-
The air transport
sector remains open. ers in 2024 will kick off another
wave of growth for global tour-
“Most economies have
firmly committed reached or exceeded ism,” said Menon.
pre-pandemic levels of con-
But Menon warned that
to addressing its nectivity. Domestic air travel “industry recovery has been
has surpassed 2019 levels.
carbon footprint.” International air travel will slowed by inflation, a tight job
market, supply chain con-
reach 2019 levels by year-end, straints, and fuel prices which
in the long term, by embracing Menon told delegates. are still higher than in 2019.
the global aspirational goal of “As the region’s borders
net zero CO2 emissions by reopened after the rest of “Non-oil costs are also esca-
2050. the world, Asia Pacific Air lating in areas like ground
“To fulfil this objective, AAPA travel recovery at 69%, trails handling, and taxation, thus
squeezing profit margins for
calls on governments, fuel other regions for the year to airlines.
producers, airports, and other September, but growth is still
industry organisations to come dramatic. “Now, labour is not in short
together globally, to acceler- “Asia Pacific passenger traffic supply in Asia, but there
ate the transition to renewable increased 171% over the are many job vacancies in
energy and fuel the industry’s same period in 2022, while aviation.•
24 | OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
