Sustainable Aviation Fuel On Tap For World Economic Forum

Ahead of the opening of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition—which includes industry groups NBAA, EBAA, IBAC, NATA, and GAMA—arranged to have SAF delivered by Neste and available at Zurich Airport for the first time, to fuel departing aircraft. A press demonstration featured a business jet receiving the blended SAF, which will be dispensed into the airport’s fuel supply to illustrate its drop-in Jet-A compatibility. Air BP is also offering SAF at Stockholm, Sweden's Arlanda Airport as an option for WEF-related flights.

"I think the more places we can demonstrate that this is here, it’s available, [and] customers just need to ask for it, the more places we are going to see [SAF] turn up,” said Doug Carr, NBAA’s vice president for regulatory and international affairs. "With demand will come supply [and] a drop in price."

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Operators heading to WEF from the U.S. can also partake in a new “book-and-claim” initiative, through Jet Aviation and World Fuel Services. Flights departing from the Jet Aviation FBOs at Teterboro [New Jersey], Hanscom [Field, near Boston], and Washington Dulles Airports can purchase virtual SAF and receive a credit for it, while the actual fuel will be dispensed to aircraft departing the Jet Aviation FBO at Los Angeles–area Van Nuys Airport. With SAF supply currently restricted, "Jet Aviation absorbs the cost of this for our customers at this time," said a spokesman for that company. As further supply becomes available and blend ratio’s increase we will review this with our customers."

For the aviation industry, the use of SAF is one of the key pillars in its quest to lessen its carbon emissions footprint, but as Carr explained, until technology reaches the point where batteries can replace fossil fuels, sustainable fuels represent one of the best measures available to help address carbon emissions coming not just from business aviation. "This has got to be a community effort, not just planes versus automobiles," he told BJT. "This has got to be a transportation industry focus in order to move the needle."