Qantas to operate Australia’s first commercial biofuel flights

Qantas will operate Australia’s first commercial flights powered by sustainable aviation fuel on 13 April 2012. The flights, a Sydney-Adelaide return service operated by an Airbus A330, will be powered by a biofuel derived from used cooking oil (split 50:50 with conventional jet fuel). Produced by SkyNRG, the fuel has been fully certified for use in commercial aviation.

The fuel’s life cycle carbon footprint is around 60% smaller than that of conventional jet fuel.

A 2011 study by the CSIRO, endorsed by major aviation businesses, found that an Australian sustainable aviation fuel industry is feasible and, over the next 20 years, could generate more than 12,000 jobs and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 17% in the aviation sector. However, it also identified significant obstacles that must be overcome.

Qantas’ Head of Environment, John Valastro, said the goal of the flights was to raise awareness about the potential for sustainable aviation fuel in Australia.

We know that sustainable aviation fuel can be used in commercial aviation just like conventional jet fuel. But until it is produced at a commercial scale, at a competitive price, the industry will not be able to realize its true benefits. No single player can make this happen: it needs support from government, private sector investment, access to infrastructure and market demand.

Over recent months Qantas has been in discussions with government and industry partners about taking the next step—producing a clear blueprint for the establishment of an Australian sustainable aviation fuel industry. This needs to focus not on speculative technologies but on biofuels that are operationally feasible now, production of which could commence within the next few years—given the right conditions. We hope to accelerate the process in the coming weeks as we build towards this Australian-first flight.

—John Valastro

QF1121 will depart Sydney at 10:20am on 13 April, arriving in Adelaide at 12:05pm. The return flight, QF1120, will depart Adelaide at 1:35pm, arriving in Sydney at 4:00pm.

Customers will be able to book seats on this service as they would on any other Qantas service. They will be notified at the time of booking that the flight will be powered by sustainable aviation fuel.