Airlines Join Forces to Promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Several major airlines have joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), an industry working group aimed at reducing aviation's environmental impact by developing sustainable alternatives to jet fuel. The new members include Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, TUIfly, and Virgin Blue, bringing the total number of airline members to 14. Boeing and Honeywell's UOP, a refining technology developer, are also associate members. These industry leaders are committed to reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG) has added 5 new airline members: Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, TUIfly, and Virgin Blue.
• The group now has a total of 14 airline members, including Air France, Air New Zealand, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Cargolux, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
• Boeing and Honeywell's UOP are associate members of the group.
• Members have pledged to work through the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) to develop sustainable biofuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate dependence on fossil fuels.
• The group's sustainability criteria stipulate that jet fuel plant sources should be developed in a non-competitive manner with food, with minimal biodiversity impacts, and should not jeopardize drinking water supplies.
• The group's sustainability criteria also emphasize the importance of reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, improving socio-economic conditions for small-scale farmers, and preserving high conservation value areas and native ecosystems.
• The RSB and User Group members are working together to develop international standards for sustainable biofuel production, which will be tested and improved through peer-reviewed research and development collaboration.
• The group will launch a sustainability assessment of halophytes in the coming months, assessing lifecycle CO2 emissions and socio-economic impacts, which will be subject to scientific peer review.

Statistics:

• The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group has 14 airline members, including several major carriers from around the world.
• Boeing and Honeywell's UOP are associate members of the group, providing refining technology expertise.
• The group's sustainability criteria stipulate that jet fuel plant sources should reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuel-based jet fuel.
• The group's sustainability criteria also emphasize the importance of preserving high conservation value areas and native ecosystems, which should not be cleared for jet fuel plant source development.

Sources:

• M2 PRESSWIRE - Alaska Airlines: Boeing and Leading Airlines Announce New Members Added to Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group
• Boeing and Honeywell's UOP are associate members of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group.
• Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels (RSB)
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG) - www.safug.org