Swedish airline Braathens Regional Airlines has completed the first test flight using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a commercial regional aircraft.
The flight took place in Sweden and was part of an ongoing collaboration between Braathens, regional aircraft manufacturer ATR and SAF supplier Neste, which is designed to accelerate the process of SAF certification. Using 100 per cent SAF can reduce aircraft emissions by up to 80 per cent.
Braathens used a prototype of the ATR 72-600 aircraft for the test flight from Malmo to Bromma, which took around one hour and 20 minutes to complete.
The flight is part of an ongoing certification process allowing ATR aircraft to use 100 per cent SAF to power engines, with this work expected to be completed by 2025. The latest test flight was the first to use 100 per cent SAF in both engines.
ATR’s CEO Stefano Bortoli called the successful test flight a “historic day for aviation” and the “dawn of a new era” for the sector.
“In recent months, we carried out a series of successful flights with sustainable aviation fuel in one engine,” said Bortoli.
“We now decided it was time to perform the first test flight with 100 per cent SAF in both engines. This helps us to certify our aircraft to fly solely on sustainable aviation fuels faster and to enable more sustainable connections as a result.”
Jonathan Wood, Neste’s vice president Europe, renewable aviation, added “As a drop-in fuel, it can be used in existing aircraft engines and is compatible with current airport fuel infrastructure.
“Test flights like this show it is possible to safely fly on 100 per cent SAF and help accelerate the adoption of SAF in aviation.”
SAF has been in the headlines this week with IATA urging governments around the world to introduce incentives to produce this type of fuel.
American Express Global Business Travel has also announced a partnership with energy giant Shell and Accenture to create the Avelia “book-and-claim” platform allowing corporate clients to purchase the fuel.