Etihad low-emission flight a ‘dramatic example’ of sustainable fuel challenges

Etihad Airways claims to have cut CO2 emissions by 72% on a London-Abu Dhabi flight using a combination of initiatives that highlighted some of the challenges ahead if the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in particular is to become a reality. The special 23 October flight was part of Etihad’s Greenliner programme – a two-year partnership between the airline and Boeing that uses the former’s 787 fleet as a testbed for sustainability improvements in partnership with other organisations. Overall, the 787-10-operated service reduced CO2 emissions by 39,000kg and fuel burn by 1,800kg, Etihad says, compared with an equivalent 2019 flight. It also points out, however, that flight number EY20 brought into focus some of the current roadblocks to widespread SAF use, which most industry roadmaps say is crucial if the airline industry is to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. “It is well known that SAFs are a credible alternative to current fossil fuels, however they are currently very expensive, and difficult to source and load on to the aircraft,” says Etihad Aviation Group’s COO Mohammad Al Bulooki. “EY20 was a dramatic example of those constraints wherein Etihad was unable to directly load the 38% SAF blend into the aircraft given inherent infrastructure constraints at Heathrow airport. Instead, the SAF purchased by Etihad was loaded into the fuel hydrant system, which serves all airport users.” That meant the flight did not directly receive the benefit of the 38% SAF blend intended for it. Etihad suggests that the aviation industry and governments “must work together to address these issues through the funding of the research and development of SAFs and other parts of the planning and operating of flights”.<br/>