SAS has signed a research agreement with Airbus to study hybrid and electric aircraft technology. The memorandum of agreement covers joint research into the operational and infrastructure challenges involved with the large-scale introduction of hybrid and all-electric aircraft. The program, which is set to run from June to the end of 2020, will cover 5 work packages focusing on the impact of ground infrastructure and electrical charging on range, resources, time and availability at airports. Airbus said the focus on reducing emissions is now fundamental to its plan to support sustainable, carbon-neutral growth in aviation. Current airliners are approximately 80% more fuel efficient than they were 50 years ago. However, the forecast growth in air travel over the next 20 years would increase environmental impact. <br/>
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SAS will launch new routes between 2 of its hubs and major European business destinations. Both services will begin in the winter 2019/20 timetable. From Nov 4, SAS will fly 3X-weekly from Stockholm Arlanda to Luxembourg. “Luxembourg is one of Europe’s financial hubs where there are also a number of important EU institutions,” SAS EVP-commercial Karl Sandlund noted. These include some departments of the EC and the secretariat of the European Parliament. The route will be served by a 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900. The winter schedule will also see the start of a weekly service between Copenhagen and the northern Italian city of Turin. A major business hub, Turin is also the jumping-off point for several ski resorts in winter. <br/>
United Airlines has agreed to purchase up to 10m gallons of biofuel over the next 2 years in a contract renewal with World Energy. The biofuel, which United uses on every flight departing its Los Angeles hub, achieves a greater than 60% reduction in carbon emissions on a lifecycle basis, the airline said Wednesday. The contract renewal follows United’s original 2013 purchase agreement with AltAir Fuels, which was acquired by Boston-based World Energy in 2018. “Investing in sustainable aviation biofuel is one of the most effective measures a commercial airline can take to reduce its impact on the environment,” United president Scott Kirby said. The purchase agreement is part of United’s effort to cut its emissions in half by 2050. <br/>