Air travel contributes to 2.5 percent of our global carbon emissions, often getting named as one of the biggest contributors to climate change. So it’s no surprise that airlines are all upping their sustainability efforts, especially in the race to find jet fuel alternatives in the form of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Three weeks ago, Emirates successfully completed a demo flight on an A380 from Dubai International Airport, with one of its four engines using 100 percent SAF. “This demonstrated SAF’s potential as a viable alternative that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements while being more sustainable,” a spokesperson for the Dubai-based carrier tells Condé Nast Traveler of the November 22 milestone.
Less than a week later, Virgin Atlantic also grabbed headlines, completing the first trans-Atlantic Ocean flight from London Heathrow to New York City’s John F. Kennedy, on a Boeing 787 running on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fueled completely by 100 percent SAF. But there’s more to celebrate than just the flight distance. What made this trip—dubbed Flight 100—so notable was that it received a special permit from the UK to go beyond the current global 50 percent SAF limit on commercial flights to go all in on the alternative. “Flight 100 proves that SAF is a safe drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and the only mid-term viable solution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation,” the UK-based carrier’s spokesperson says.
It can be tough to wrap your head around the technicalities, so we broke down what this means for the future of travel ahead.
What is SAF made of?
A United spokesperson explains that the fuel alternative can be made from all sorts of renewable sources, including ethanol, algae, municipal water, as well as captured and repurposed carbon. “In its final form, SAF is almost chemically identical to normal jet fuel, and meets the same strict industry standards for conventional jet fuel, but can reduce a plane’s emissions by up to 85 percent,” the Chicago-based carrier says.
For example, Flight 100 used a “unique dual blend,” according to the airline’s spokeperson. It contained 88 percent AirBP-supplied Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) made of waste fats, and 12 percent Virent-provided Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene (SAK), which is made from plant sugars. Fully 100 percent SAF blends all require SAK “to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function,” the airline explains.
Will fliers notice the difference?
The two airlines say that, for consumers, the SAF-powered flight experience will be exactly the same as ones powered by traditional fuel. Where travelers could see a difference is on the price tag. After all, right now there isn’t the supply needed to fuel planes on a large scale, so the low supply means higher prices for the airlines.
