British Airways is to begin using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on selected flights, following the delivery of its first supply of SAF from Phillips 66 Ltd.
In December, the airline unveiled an agreement with Phillips 66 to purchase SAF produced at the group’s Humber refinery. According to the company itself, it would be the first airline in the world to start using PBS produced on a commercial scale in the UK.
BA’s original press release stated that it would power “a number of flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel“. The airline has made public that the SAF is added to the existing fuel pipeline at strategic locations. Then, said sustainable fuel, is blended with conventional fossil fuel before reaching the aircraft.
“This means that hundreds of flights could operate with a blend of SAF in the fuel at low levels” the airline continued.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the UK
The process is similar to that of green energy tariffs. As British airways explains “there is no special ‘green grid’ that sends renewable-only power to your home if you have a renewable energy tariff. Equally, there is no special SAF infrastructure that means Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be delivered to a specific flight at scale”.
“One of the main advantages of SAF is that it is an immediate solution that can be used as a direct substitute for fossil jet fuel”. To which the company adds that “BA’s supply of SAF will, in effect, be the first to help green the UK’s jet fuel supply.”
SAF Producers
Last September the company operated a flight between London and Glasgow with 35% SAF, meanwhile, it did the same with a flight between London Heathrow and New York JFK with a similar blend of SAF. Both services were operated with sustainable jet fuel supplied by BP.
The airline said the partnership “will be enough to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by almost 100,000 tons. i.e. enough to power 700 net zero CO2 flights between London and New York on its fuel-efficient Boeing 787 aircraft.”
Sean Doyle, chairman and chief executive officer of British Airways, said, “Our Sustainable Aviation Fuel supplies from Phillips 66 Limited will enable us to make progress on our ambitious roadmap.” The goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. It will also play a role in our commitment, as part of International Airlines Group (IAG), to the goal of fueling 10% of flights with SAF by 2030.
Source: Business Traveller (2022)