Carriers look to next-generation aviation fuel

Several airlines have teamed up with aircraft manufacturer Boeing in a renewed bid to spur on the development of greener jet fuel.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group has the backing of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and its members collectively account for more than 15 per cent of all jet fuel use.

Participating carriers include Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cargolux, Continental Airlines, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic.

The group has the stated goal of minimising the environmental impact of harmful emissions from airliners by boosting dependence on renewable fuel sources.

It also seeks to source fuel with as little impact on natural environments, avoiding competition with food or fresh water resources and providing social and economic benefits to local communities.

"If done right, sustainable biofuels could lower the airlines' carbon footprint at a time when all industries need to be moving away from fuels with high levels of global warming pollution," commented NRDC spokesperson Liz Barratt-Brown.

Billy Glover of Boeing added: "This is a tremendous opportunity for leading airlines … to help commercial aviation take control of its future fuel supply in terms of origin, sustainability and environmental impacts."

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