Australian airliner Qantas has launched its first commercial flight powered by a 50:50 mixture of biofuel derived from conventional fuel and refined cooking oil on Airbus A330 aircraft, marking a step forward towards a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.
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Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, said, "We are delighted to be operating Australia’s first sustainable aviation fuel flights and to be launching a study into the feasibility of producing such fuel in this country."
"Alternatives to conventional jet fuel are vital to the aviation industry meeting ambitious targets for carbon-neutral growth and emissions reduction," Joyce added.
In May this year, Quantas, in collaboration with Shell Australia, is planning to begin a feasibility study into the sustainable production and commercialisation of aviation biofuels, which will be funded by the Australian Government.
Under the AUS$500,000 Emerging Renewables Programme grant, the collaboration will work on a feasibility study into the durable capability of biofuel feedstock and low carbon aviation fuel production.
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By GlobalData"Until sustainable aviation fuel is produced commercially at a price competitive with conventional jet fuel, we will not be able to realise its true benefits," Joyce said.
"This study aims to tell us how that can be achieved in Australia."
According to Quantas, the biofuel which is certified for commercial aviation use has a life cycle carbon footprint of about 60% smaller than that of traditional jet fuel.
The airliner is also planning to launch two more flights powered by the same fuel type on April 19.
Europe has already begun imposing carbon tax on airlines while New Zealand has a carbon tax and now Australia is planning to impose tax on carbon emissions from 1 July this year.
Image: Quantas has launched its first biofuel powered commercial flight on Airbus A330 aircraft. Image: Quantas.
