British Airways has become the first airline to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by UK-based company Phillips 66 Limited. The airline becomes the first one to start using SAF produced on a commercial scale in the UK.
The Phillips 66 Humber Refinery near Immingham, Lincolnshire, is producing thousands of tonnes of SAF that will now help power a number of British Airways flights. The SAF is produced from sustainable waste feedstock at the refinery and British Airways will add it into the existing pipeline infrastructure that directly feeds several UK airports including London Heathrow.
The sustainable aviation fuel bought by the airline will be enough to reduce life cycle CO2 emissions by almost 100,000 tonnes, enough to power 700 net zero CO2 emissions flights between London and New York on its fuel-efficient Boeing 787 aircraft.
Being the first airline to source sustainable aviation fuel produced at commercial scale in the UK is another breakthrough moment for us and the airline industry.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive
Both companies support Government plans for a future SAF mandate and a business model for investing in advanced waste to jet fuel projects through participation in the Department for Transport’s Jet Zero Council Delivery Group. British Airways also continues to work with Government on ways to provide certainty for investors to help the UK be a leader in SAF production.
International Airlines Group (IAG), the airline’s parent company, is investing $400 million over the next 20 years into the development of SAF and British Airways has existing partnerships with several companies to develop plants and purchase the sustainable fuel.
The company announced that its supplies of SAF from Phillips 66 Limited would allow them to progress with their ambitious roadmap to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, and that it would play a role in their commitment, as part of International Airlines Group (IAG), to power 10% of flights with SAF by 2030.
I’m confident that Britain can take a leading role on the global stage in this space, creating green jobs and export opportunities.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive
“It’s great to see British Airways is the first airline in the world that started using sustainable aviation fuel produced at scale in the UK – an important milestone towards our ambitious Jet Zero targets,” said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. “The fact it’s being produced here in the UK is a perfect demonstration how Britain continues to be a pioneer in developing green aviation technology and the Government will meet its 2050 net zero target.
According to Business Travel Europe, using SAF for flights is one of the ways in which BA is trying to cut its carbon emissions. Other initiatives include investing in hydrogen propulsion aircraft developer ZeroAvia, and allowing passengers to purchase SAF in combination with offsets to reduce their individual carbon footprint from flights.
“We can create thousands of green jobs while reducing the impact that flying has on the environment, so we can continue to connect and travel in a greener way,” Shapps concluded.
