Photo: Air New Zealand/Instagram
Air New Zealand got its hands on 500,000 liters (132,086 gallons) of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), delivered straight into Wellington for the first time. It's a small step, and the whole SAF issue is still riddled with challenges, but it's meant to be a clear signal for the industry.
The batch of SAF recently delivered to Air New Zealand had to follow a not-too-sustainable route because this important alternative fuel is still not produced locally in the large quantities that are commercially required.
The SAF itself was produced in China from 100% used cooking oil, then delivered to Exxon Mobil, which made the commercial-ready blend and then supplied it to the airline. This recent quantity would be enough to power 165 domestic flights between Auckland and Wellington.
New Zealand is one of the nations that are particularly interested in sustainable solutions for commercial aviation. Due to its specific location and geography, New Zealand relies on flights for a big chunk of its internal transportation, not to mention its connection to the world. On the other hand, countries worldwide are slowly starting to request SAF for outbound flights, pushing airline operators to take more decisive steps toward green solutions. In other words, Air New Zealand is facing pressure internally and externally to ramp up the use of SAF.
One of the biggest challenges for all operators in the industry continues to be the insufficient supply. According to data from The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the supply hasn't even reached 1% of the global needs, despite the rapid growth in recent years in terms of production.
A silent but fierce competition for SAF supply over the coming years is currently taking place on a global level. Air New Zealand is also doing its best. Earlier this year, the Kiwi operator announced a significant deal with Neste for 9 million liters of SAF. For those who don't know, Neste is currently the top dog in SAF production worldwide. The Finnish company has expanded tremendously over the last few years, now operating refineries on three continents.
Still, several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, are striving to create and grow their own SAF production industries. This would not only ensure sufficient quantities for regular SAF-powered operations but also drastically lower overall costs. Right now, this alternative fuel continues to be an expensive solution, making it harder to implement on a wider scale.
Meanwhile, operators like Air New Zealand are also exploring green hydrogen's potential. Although this is seen more as a possible solution in the future, small steps must be taken as soon as possible. Together with partners such as Universal Hydrogen, the Kiwi airline is exploring the possibility of converting its regional aircraft to run on hydrogen. Plus, it's also adding new-generation, green aircraft to its fleet, such as the all-electric Alia.
The SAF itself was produced in China from 100% used cooking oil, then delivered to Exxon Mobil, which made the commercial-ready blend and then supplied it to the airline. This recent quantity would be enough to power 165 domestic flights between Auckland and Wellington.
New Zealand is one of the nations that are particularly interested in sustainable solutions for commercial aviation. Due to its specific location and geography, New Zealand relies on flights for a big chunk of its internal transportation, not to mention its connection to the world. On the other hand, countries worldwide are slowly starting to request SAF for outbound flights, pushing airline operators to take more decisive steps toward green solutions. In other words, Air New Zealand is facing pressure internally and externally to ramp up the use of SAF.
One of the biggest challenges for all operators in the industry continues to be the insufficient supply. According to data from The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the supply hasn't even reached 1% of the global needs, despite the rapid growth in recent years in terms of production.
A silent but fierce competition for SAF supply over the coming years is currently taking place on a global level. Air New Zealand is also doing its best. Earlier this year, the Kiwi operator announced a significant deal with Neste for 9 million liters of SAF. For those who don't know, Neste is currently the top dog in SAF production worldwide. The Finnish company has expanded tremendously over the last few years, now operating refineries on three continents.
Still, several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, are striving to create and grow their own SAF production industries. This would not only ensure sufficient quantities for regular SAF-powered operations but also drastically lower overall costs. Right now, this alternative fuel continues to be an expensive solution, making it harder to implement on a wider scale.
Meanwhile, operators like Air New Zealand are also exploring green hydrogen's potential. Although this is seen more as a possible solution in the future, small steps must be taken as soon as possible. Together with partners such as Universal Hydrogen, the Kiwi airline is exploring the possibility of converting its regional aircraft to run on hydrogen. Plus, it's also adding new-generation, green aircraft to its fleet, such as the all-electric Alia.
Google News