Monday 20 December 2021

Qantas to use SAF for London flights from next month

Australian airline Qantas will use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from next month for its flights from London.

The move is expected to reduce the carbon emissions of each flight by 10%.

It has signed the agreement with bp to purchase 10 million litres of SAF next year, with an option to buy a further 10 million during the next two years.

The move will mean SAF will account for 15% of Qantas’ overall fuel use out of London.

A blend of used cooking oil and waste products, the airline hopes SAF will contribute heavily towards its target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Parker said: “Zero-emission technology like electric aircraft or green hydrogen are still a very long way off for aviation and even further away for long haul flights like London to Australia.

“SAF and high-quality carbon offsetting are therefore critical on the path to net zero.

“Aviation biofuels typically deliver around an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis compared to the jet fuel it is replacing and is the most significant tool airlines have to reduce their impact on the environment.”