When it comes to air travel, opting for environmentally friendly options can come with a higher price tag. Additionally, the adoption of sustainable practices in the aviation industry is expected to face significant challenges.
Sustainability took center stage at the Paris Air Show, the largest global event for the aviation industry, where the pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft was a major concern. Even with the substantial orders placed at the show, airlines and manufacturers emphasized that the new planes would be more fuel-efficient compared to their predecessors.
However, the majority of these planes will still rely on conventional kerosene-based jet fuel. While there are ongoing efforts by startups to develop electric-powered aircraft, their widespread adoption is projected to be slower than that of electric vehicles. Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at New York University, explained that it is more straightforward to integrate a heavy battery into a ground-based vehicle than into an aircraft that needs to be lifted off the ground.
Consequently, sustainable aviation fuel has emerged as the industry’s primary solution to achieve its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Although aviation currently contributes 2% to 3% of global carbon emissions, this figure is expected to rise as travel increases and other industries make progress in adopting greener practices.
However, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) currently represents only 0.1% of all jet fuel used. SAF is produced from sources such as used cooking oil and plant waste, and it can be blended with conventional jet fuel. However, the cost of SAF is significantly higher compared to traditional jet fuel.
During the air show, Molly Wilkinson, a vice president at American Airlines, expressed concerns about the pricing of SAF, stating that suppliers will likely have the ability to determine the price. There is a fear among industry insiders that this increased cost will eventually be passed on to passengers in the form of higher ticket prices.
Given the limited supply of SAF, critics argue that airlines are making overly ambitious promises and exaggerating their ability to rapidly increase its usage. In fact, there are skeptics within the industry itself. According to a survey by GE Aerospace, nearly one-third of aviation sustainability officers doubt that the industry will be able to achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Delta Air Lines is currently facing a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court, with critics alleging that the airline falsely presents itself as the world’s first carbon-neutral airline. These critics argue that Delta’s claim is based on carbon offsets that are largely ineffective. However, Delta Air Lines has dismissed these allegations, stating that they are baseless and lack legal merit.
In Europe, a consumer group called BEUC has filed a complaint with the European Union’s executive arm. The complaint accuses 17 airlines of engaging in greenwashing, a practice where companies mislead consumers about their environmental credentials. According to BEUC, these airlines are violating rules on unfair commercial practices by encouraging customers to pay extra to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and offset future carbon emissions resulting from air travel.
The consumer group believes that these airlines are misleading consumers by promoting these initiatives without providing sufficient evidence of their effectiveness or transparency in their practices. By doing so, they argue that the airlines are not fulfilling their obligations to provide accurate and reliable information to customers.
In one specific case highlighted by the consumer group BEUC, researchers discovered that Air France was charging customers up to 138 euros ($150) for the “green option” related to sustainable aviation fuel.
Dimitri Vergne, a senior policy officer at BEUC, acknowledged that sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) hold significant technological potential for decarbonizing the aviation sector. However, he emphasized that the main challenge lies in the limited availability of SAF. Vergne stated that it is unlikely that SAF will be widely accessible in significant quantities within the next decade or become the primary source of fuel for planes.
Producers of sustainable aviation fuel claim that it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over the life cycle, compared to regular jet fuel. Despite this potential, the current scarcity and limited production capacity hinder its widespread adoption and utilization within the aviation industry.
Airlines have been discussing their commitment to environmental sustainability for several years, largely influenced by the emergence of the “flight shaming” movement. This movement urges individuals to seek out less-polluting modes of transportation or reduce their travel altogether.
The issue gained even more significance this year when European Union negotiators reached an agreement on new regulations that will require airlines to increase their use of sustainable fuel, starting in 2025 and progressively escalating in the coming years.
In contrast, the United States is focusing on providing incentives rather than imposing mandates. President Joe Biden signed a law last year that offers tax breaks to encourage the development of cleaner jet fuel. However, one of the tax credits included in the law is set to expire in just two years. American Airlines’ executive, Molly Wilkinson, expressed concern that this short timeframe is insufficient to attract sustainable fuel producers. She advocates for extending the tax credit by 10 years or longer to provide more stability and support for sustainable fuel development.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade group representing airlines worldwide, estimates that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could contribute to around 65% of the emissions reductions necessary for the industry to achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. SAF is seen as a key component in the aviation industry’s efforts to address its environmental impact.
The adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains limited due to the scarcity of supply and the lack of infrastructure to support its widespread use.
Shortly before the Paris Air Show, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would contribute 200 million euros ($218 million) toward a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) plant dedicated to SAF production.
Several airlines have made investments in SAF producers such as World Energy, which operates a plant in Paramount, California, and Finland’s Neste.
United Airlines, for example, aims to triple its SAF usage this year, reaching 10 million gallons. However, considering that the airline consumed 3.6 billion gallons of fuel in the previous year, the current scale of SAF adoption is relatively small.
Sustainable fuel is seen by some as a transitional solution while cleaner technologies, such as larger electric planes or hydrogen-powered aircraft, are developed. However, the implementation of electric planes on a larger scale would require significant advancements in battery technology to provide sufficient power for extended flights.
As for hydrogen, its storage and cooling present challenges. It cannot be carried in the wings of today’s planes, as jet fuel is. While hydrogen holds promise, experts believe it poses both engineering and economic challenges. Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace consultant at AeroDynamic Advisory, stated at the Paris Air Show that although hydrogen is within the realm of possibility, it is not likely to be viable for commercial aviation in the next few decades.