The boss of Heathrow airport is urging the UK government to
“show leadership” at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) by
putting in place progressive mandates on the use of sustainable aviation fuels
(SAFs).
Commending the recent commitment by the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) and the Airports Council International (ACI World)
for the global aviation industry to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050,
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said government policies such as mandates, a
price support mechanism and loan guarantees could help scale up the production
of SAFs in the UK.
Holland-Kaye said: “We should aim for 2019 to have been the
peak year for fossil fuel use in global aviation. The UK government can show
real leadership on decarbonising aviation at COP26 by setting a progressively
increasing mandate and a plan to use contracts for difference to accelerate the
transition to sustainable aviation fuel in the UK, which will protect the
benefits of flying for future generations.”
Part of the pledge signed by IATA and ACI World includes
increasing the use of SAFs. Individual carriers such as International Airlines Group (IAG), Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, All
Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have committed to using SAFs for at least 10
per cent of their total fuel consumption by 2030, while a group of corporate
travel buyers have launched the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) to
invest in SAFs.
Holland-Kaye made the comment as Heathrow reported that
passenger numbers in September remained at just under 40 per cent of
pre-pandemic levels. North American traffic was only 25 per cent of 2019
levels, while cargo carried in the hold of passenger planes was down by nearly
8 per cent.
With the majority of travel restrictions having been lifted
as of this morning and the UK government confirming it hopes to introduce
cheaper lateral flow tests for international arrivals by the end of October,
Heathrow said passengers can now “book with confidence”, putting it “back on track”
for recovery following more than 18 months of the pandemic.