Did you know?
Over 40,000 commercial flights have already taken place on sustainable aviation fuel, with that number increasing rapidly.
Relevance to aviation
The aviation industry is working hard to develop sustainable aviation fuels, as well as deploying renewable energy at airports. In recent years, the aviation industry has made substantial progress towards developing sustainable alternative fuels. These fuels can be up to 80% less carbon-intensive than traditional fossil-based jet fuel. The progress is encouraging, but the industry is aware that more work needs to be done if alternative fuel is to make up a significant share of the fuel supply.
Examples of action
- Over 100 airports worldwide now utilise solar energy to power their operations.
- Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport has instituted a policy of encouraging the uptake of low-emissions vehicles by giving priority to eco-taxis.
- Airlines worldwide have joined together to form the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), which aims to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels www.safug.org. Meanwhile, the US government and aviation industry CAAFI partnership promotes the widespread adoption of this new energy source for the sector.
- Helsinki Airport is using renewable diesel to power its ground vehicles.
- Finnair’s new COOL Nordic Cargo Hub in Helsinki Cargo uses solar power to regulate the temperate of pharmaceutical and salmon supplies.
- Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has opened a geothermal lake plate cooling system to provide Nashville International Airport with a sustainable energy source.
- United Airlines is working with Los Angeles Airport and sustainable aviation fuel producer, AltAir, to conduct all regular United flights from Los Angeles on sustainable aviation fuel.
- Alaska Air Group aims to convert 44% of its ground fleet to electric vehicles by 2020.
Learn more in the Flying in Formation report