Airlines and biofuels for the future

In the current year the world’s airlines will burn between 210 million and 220 million tons of fuel and generate 650 million tons of carbon emissions in the process.  With rising fuel prices and pressure to reduce fuel emissions the airline industry have recognised the advantages of using more biofuel.

KLM announced earlier this year that it would begin operating more than 200 flights using biofuel.  July, Lufthansa, Finnair and Thomson Airways also launched their bio-fuelled flights.  And in August, Aearomexico flew what it called the first biofuel-powered transcontinental commercial flight.

Airline and aviation executives gathered in Hong Kong for a conference on aviation and the environment in late September, and the response was overwhelming.  The progress towards biofuels has been remarkable, as pointed out by Tony Tyler, the former chief executive of Cathay Pacific.  He said, “I have been amazed at how quickly we moved forward.  Just a few years ago, the concept of using biofuels to help power aircrafts seemed “very pie-in-the-sky and futuristic.  Now biofuels have become a reality.”

Jimmy Samartzis, managing director for global environmental affairs and sustainability at United commented on the U.S. carriers who have made varying commitments to biofuels and said, “A key pillar of the environmental commitment of the combined company is a commitment to alternative fuels.”

While jet fuel is currently the biggest cost for airlines, some believe that using biofuels will help stabilize fuel prices and supply.

Samartzis said, “We face a lot of volatility with fuel pricing because of crude oil volatility, we look at this as a potential way to manage that to some degree.”  Yet like any new technology, biofuels will initially be expensive, raising questions about whether that cost will be passed to the consumer.

“We don’t expect that we will have to face that challenge," said Samartzis. "As far as we can tell … we can get the cost to be competitive with conventional jet fuel.”

Cost issues aside, biofuels have the highest energy density of all fuels currently available. Airlines looking  to become more efficient are taking notice. “ We as a company and an industry have made a commitment to achieving certain fuel efficiency improvements and carbon reduction goals long term," Samartzis said. "In order to achieve those on a collective industry basis, alternative fuels are a key component.”