Industry Analysis

Sustainable air travel is fast becoming one of the most talked about topics throughout the aviation industry, and for good reason. With governments across the world committing to reducing flight emissions and creating a more environmentally efficient method of flying, developments are coming thick and fast.

In recent weeks, there have been many positive steps taken by travel firms, airlines and technology companies which aim to secure a greener future for the industry.

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a $50 million investment in a LanzaJet facility in Georgia that plans to produce jet fuel from ethanol. LanzaJet aims to manufacture 10 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel per year from sustainable ethanol in 2023. The company has also received funding from the likes of British Airways, Shell and Suncor Energy Inc.

Several European airlines have joined forces with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to create a ‘Fuelling Flight Initiative’. EasyJet, Ryanair, DHL Aviation and Air France-KLM have come together in response to a legislative proposal from the European Commission, known as ‘ReFuelEU’.

The alliance has urged the commission to set more ambitious targets for the future use of E-kerosene - a type of SAF that can be blended with conventional jet fuel to reduce flight emissions, provide financial support to enable new biofuel feedstocks, create a European Sustainable Aviation Fuel alliance with a focus on research and development and a comprehensive SAF registry applying to fuel suppliers.

EasyJet has also announced a new partnership with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions to support the development of a hydrogen fuel cell propelled aircraft by 2023, while Jet2 launched a new carbon offset scheme – one of its headline commitments for 2022.

In another sizable development, Atlantic Aviation, a leading network of fixed-based operators (FBOs) in North America is now selling SAF from its Los Angeles International Airport FBO. This follows a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Washington, DC last month which used 100% SAF, making it the first commercial flight to be powered solely by renewable fuel.

Elsewhere, Spanish firms Iberia and Cepsa have formed a partnership to develop and trial SAFs whilst also exploring other measures to decarbonise flights including renewable hydrogen and electrification. Travel firm Iberia and energy company Cepsa will collaborate to explore how these low-carbon options could be incorporated into Iberia’s aircraft fleet.

Finally, a new CO2-reducing energy plant has been opened at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, Serbia. With the plant using more efficient energy sources and relying on low-carbon fuels, the airport’s carbon footprint is expected to reduce significantly.