Singapore Airlines and its Scoot subsidiary have set the goal of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 5 per cent of its total fuel requirements by 2030.
SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with traditional kerosene-based jet fuel, and its use will be crucial to the aviation industry reaching its target of becoming net-zero for emissions by 2050. SAF can be produced from several feedstocks including used cooking oil, animal fats and other sources.
Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines, said: “This is an important milestone in the SIA Group’s sustainability journey. The greater use of sustainable fuels will be a key lever in our decarbonisation strategy, which includes our continued investment in new generation aircraft and greater operational efficiencies.
“However, we cannot do this alone. Deeper collaboration with partners and stakeholders, both in Singapore and around the world, is needed for all of us to meet our collective sustainability targets.
“We will continue to find opportunities to work together to support the greater production and use of sustainable fuels in the airline industry, as well as other decarbonisation initiatives.”
Singapore Airlines said it was in “ongoing” discussions with fuel suppliers to buy more SAF.
The carrier has used the “drop in” fuel, which is currently mixed with traditional fuel, for some flights between Singapore and San Francisco back in 2017, as well as through a year-long partnership with Swedish airport operator Swedavia in 2020.
In September, the airline also concluded a 20-month SAF pilot scheme which saw 1,000 tonnes of the fuel being blended in Singapore and used for flights from Changi airport.
Last week, UK-based carrier Virgin Atlantic secured permission from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to operate the first transatlantic flight powered entirely by SAF. This landmark service is due to fly from London to New York on 28 November.