Operations

In the last 40 years, aircraft fuel burn and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 70 per cent and noise by 75 per cent. However, the air transport industry is determined to improve the environmental performance of aircraft operations even further, and is constantly seeking new ways to reduce noise, emissions and fuel burn. 

Airbus is continuously working with international, industry and cross-industry partners to fully explore the potential benefits of alternative fuels. To coordinate these efforts, the company developed its alternative fuels roadmap, which estimates that some 30 per cent of all jet fuel used in 2030 could be sustainable biojet fuel.

Biofuels offer a ‘drop-in’ solution that does not require changes to aircraft systems or supply infrastructure. They also represent a sustainable solution for air transport, because aviation represents a relatively small market. However, as supplies will be limited, there will need to be some degree of priority given to reserving biofuels for the aviation industry as other sectors can more easily develop alternatives.

As part of this effort, Airbus has teamed with the European Commission, leading airlines and biofuel producers to speed up the commercialisation of aviation biofuels in Europe. Called “Biofuel Flightpath,” this initiative provides a roadmap with clear milestones that target an annual production of two million tonnes of sustainably produced biofuel for aviation by 2020.