British Airways is investing in a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and plans to operate a number of flights powered by SAF from late 2022.
British Airways (BA) is on the journey to the greener skies as it plans to invest in a new US plant to be built in Georgia, United States, by LanzaJet, which will produce sustainable aviation fuel from sustainably-sourced ethanol. BA expects the fuel to be available to power a number of its flights by the end of 2022.
The green initiative of developing sustainable aviation fuels is part of British Airways commitment to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2050. British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG) (IAG), said it will be investing $400 million in sustainable aviation fuel in the next 20 years.
“Progressing the development and commercial deployment of sustainable aviation fuel is crucial to decarbonizing the aviation industry and this partnership with LanzaJet shows the progress British Airways is making as we continue on our journey to net zero,” said British Airways’ CEO Sean Doyle.
The SAF would create 70% less carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel, according to the airline. However, SAF can be used to substitute for up to 50% of standard fuel and most of the previously conducted demonstration flights used only 5% of greener fuel.
In January 2021, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said to have operated the world’s first commercial flight using sustainable synthetic kerosene on route from Amsterdam to Madrid.
“The transition away from fossil fuel to durable alternatives is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry,” said CEO of KLM Airlines Pieter Elbers.
The same month, plane manufacturer Boeing announced that all of its commercial planes would be able and certified to fly on 100% sustainable fuels by the year 2030.
