Air Transport

Australia's Qantas Airways has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, an industry effort to develop commercially successful sustainable jet fuel.

"Through the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, we are joining other industry partners to work together to lessen the environmental impact of aviation," says Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

"Qantas is also looking at ways to save fuel and reduce carbon emissions, and is pioneering Required Navigational Performance (RNP), which uses leading edge technology to land aircraft efficiently. It is initiatives such as these, and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, where airlines are working together to develop technology, that will lead to a more environmentally sustainable industry."

Members of the group pledge that any sustainable aviation fuel will perform as well as, or better than, traditional kerosene-based fuel, but with a smaller carbon footprint. They also pledge to use only renewable fuel sources that have a minimal impact on biodiversity, require as little land, water, and energy to produce as possible, and do not compete with food or fresh water resources. It must also provide socioeconomic value to local communities where biomass is grown.

Qantas says that it will be an active member of the regional branch of the group, and look into issues specific to the Australian and New Zealand environmental context.

Boeing and Honeywell's UOP, a refining technology developer, are associate members of the group. Airline members include Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Blue, Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic Airways.