S’pore has ‘no choice’ but to require airlines to use sustainable fuel in green push: CAAS chief

Singapore’s civil aviation chief said the authorities here have no choice but to require airlines to use green jet fuel despite concerns that a planned levy to be imposed on passengers could result in higher air travel costs and reduce Singapore’s competitiveness as an air hub. Han Kok Juan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), said on Feb 20 that the agency has been asked why it wants to mandate eco-friendly fuel use, which would make air travel more expensive and compromise the competitiveness of airlines and the Singapore air hub. “We have no choice, because if you really think about it... it is really a matter of time that we would have to deploy sustainable aviation fuel in our respective airports,” Mr Han said at a dialogue session at the Singapore Airshow 2024, which runs till Feb 25. He acknowledged that this will make operating out of the Singapore hub “a bit more expensive”, but Singapore will try to be a lot more competitive and attractive in other ways. He did not elaborate. The dialogue, attended by about 70 people, including delegates and exhibitors, was moderated by Oliver Plogmann, a partner at management consultancy McKinsey & Company Singapore. Han was responding to a question from the moderator on how to increase the adoption of eco-friendly jet fuel a day after CAAS launched its sustainable air hub blueprint on Feb 19.<br/>