Climate-Friendly Flights: A Long Journey with Higher Costs

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Achieving eco-friendly air travel comes at a price, both in terms of time and money. The aviation industry, under mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acknowledges that the transition to sustainability will be a gradual process.

Sustainability took center stage at the Paris Air Show, the largest global event for the aviation sector. Airlines and manufacturers emphasized their commitment to replace older aircraft with more fuel-efficient models, but the majority of these planes will still rely on traditional kerosene-based jet fuel. Although startups are diligently working on electric-powered aircraft, their widespread adoption will lag behind electric vehicles due to the challenges of incorporating heavy batteries into aircraft.

Consequently, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the industry’s best bet to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050. Aviation currently contributes 2% to 3% of global carbon emissions, a figure projected to rise as travel increases and other industries adopt greener practices.

However, sustainable fuel represents just 0.1% of total jet fuel consumption. Derived from sources like used cooking oil and plant waste, SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel but is considerably more expensive. Suppliers have the power to dictate prices, raising concerns that these costs will eventually be passed down to passengers through ticket prices, as expressed by Molly Wilkinson, a vice president at American Airlines.

Critics argue that airlines are making overly ambitious claims and exaggerating their ability to scale up SAF usage, citing its limited availability. Even within the aviation industry, skepticism exists, with nearly one-third of aviation sustainability officers surveyed by GE Aerospace expressing doubts about achieving the net-zero goal by 2050.

Delta Air Lines is facing a lawsuit in U.S. federal court for allegedly falsely marketing itself as the world’s first carbon-neutral airline, with critics contending that the claim relies heavily on dubious carbon offsets. The airline denies these allegations, dismissing them as legally baseless.

Across the Atlantic, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) filed a complaint with the European Union, accusing 17 airlines of deceptive practices by encouraging passengers to pay extra for the development of SAF and the offsetting of future carbon emissions resulting from air travel. BEUC argues that the airlines mislead consumers and violate rules on unfair commercial practices. For example, Air France has been found to charge up to 138 euros ($150) for the “green” option.

Dimitri Vergne, a senior policy officer at BEUC, acknowledges that while sustainable aviation fuels hold significant technological potential for decarbonizing the industry, their availability remains a major hurdle. He explains that SAF will not be available in substantial quantities and will not become the primary fuel source for planes.

SAF producers claim that their product can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to regular jet fuel throughout its life cycle.

Airlines have been discussing their greening efforts for years, as the rise of the “flight shaming” movement urged individuals to opt for less polluting forms of transportation or reduce travel altogether.

This year, the issue gained urgency when European Union negotiators established new rules mandating increased use of sustainable fuel by airlines from 2025 onward, with requirements escalating in subsequent years.

Meanwhile, the United States is opting for incentives instead of mandates. President Joe Biden signed a law last year providing tax breaks for the development of cleaner jet fuel, but one of the credits is set to expire in just two years. American Airlines executive Molly Wilkinson argues that this short timeframe fails to attract sustainable fuel producers, suggesting that the credit should be extended for at least 10 years.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF could contribute to 65% of the emissions reductions necessary for the industry to achieve its net-zero goal by 2050. However, the limited supply and inadequate infrastructure currently restrict the usage of SAF in only a handful of flights.

Shortly before the Paris Air Show, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would invest 200 million euros ($218 million) towards a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) plant for the production of SAF.

Several airlines have made investments in SAF producers, such as World Energy in California and Neste in Finland.

United Airlines plans to triple its SAF usage this year, reaching 10 million gallons. However, this figure pales in comparison to the 3.6 billion gallons of fuel burned by the airline last year.

For some, sustainable fuel serves as a transitional solution toward cleaner technologies like larger electric planes or hydrogen-powered aircraft. However, powering a large electric plane would necessitate significant advancements in battery technology. Hydrogen, on the other hand, presents engineering and economic challenges, as it requires specialized storage methods and cannot be carried in aircraft wings like traditional jet fuel.

While hydrogen holds promise, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory, an aerospace consultancy, emphasized that it will likely take several decades to address the associated engineering and economic hurdles.

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Original source: Associated Press (AP)

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• Paris Air Show
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)
• European Consumer Organization (BEUC)
• Delta Air Lines
• World Energy
• Neste
• GE Aerospace
• Associated Press (AP)