The European Commission is working on goals for carriers to use a minimum share of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to curb the aviation industry’s carbon emissions. As the group redraws targets for 2030, several European low-cost carriers have written to the European Union to ask for sustainable fuel quotes to apply for all flights, not just short-haul services. Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, and the non-governmental organization, Transport & Environment have all signed the letter.
No exclusions
According to Reuters, the signatories are looking for the quotas to apply on trips to and from Europe, not just those within the continent. The letter states that by excluding long-distance operations in the SAF mandate, the key area that needs to be decarbonized the most would not be covered.
The group of organizations referred to information from the air traffic management group, Eurocontrol. The data highlights that 6% of flights from European airports that flew over 4,000 km accounted for half of the total CO2 emissions from services leaving the continent.
A joint effort needed
Moreover, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary emphasized that it’s not logical to exclude long-haul trips from SAF usage obligations as it’s what he feels is the only way to decarbonize. Earlier this month, Ryanair shared details of its commitment to SAFs. The airline joined the Fuelling Flight Initiative to help it achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the aviation industry.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuels are a key component of airlines’ efforts on the road to carbon-neutrality. A transparent and future-proof regulatory framework for SAFs can support and equip airlines in their fight against climate change, and we are proud to be part of this initiative,” Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability, Tom Fowler, said in a statement.
“Ryanair’s environmental record speaks for itself. Our Environmental Policy includes investment in new and more efficient aircraft, support for research into SAFs, elimination of non-recyclable plastics within 5 years and participation in verified carbon projects powered by Ryanair customer donations. With this new initiative, we take a further step to the achievement of our decarbonisation targets and the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
A long way to go
Sustainable fuels remain more costly than traditional fuels. So, there may be opposition from many long-haul carriers when it comes to the quotas.
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Altogether, SAFs are only a short-term solution to reducing emissions and improving sustainability efforts. As the 2030s get into full swing, the aviation industry will be looking to deploy new technologies such as hydrogen fuels. At the moment, these processes are still in their infancy but manufacturers and carriers alike have advocated their usage in the future.
Overall, what are your thoughts on these low-cost carriers asking the European Union for sustainable fuel quotes to apply for all flights? Do you feel that this is a good move for the airlines? Let us know what you think of the situation in the comment section.
