IATA Sustainable Alternative Aviation Fuels Strategy
IATA’s vision
Our vision for aviation is:
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to significantly reduce its carbon footprint over the next decades,
to develop a long term, sustainable alternative for petroleum- based jet fuel
Background
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IATA member airlines are collectively committed to ambitious emissions reduction goals:
o Fuel efficiency improvement of 1.5% p.a. on average between 2009 and 2020
o Carbon-neutral growth from 2020
o 50% net emissions reduction in 2050 compared to 2005
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Fuel efficiency measures through improvements in aircraft technology, operations and
infrastructure are not sufficient to reach the two latter goals; low-carbon fuels and
market-based measures are needed in addition. Sustainable alternative aviation jet
fuels1, (which currently are mostly biojet fuels), are the only low-carbon fuels available
for aviation in the short- to mid-term.
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Sustainable production of sufficient amounts of feedstock at affordable prices is key to
the deployment of biojet fuels at a commercial scale.
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Realizing a substantial contribution toward the accomplishment of the aviation industry’s
climate goals from sustainable alternative aviation fuels requires significant investment
and governmental support.
Objective
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The main focus of IATA’s work in the sustainable alternative fuels area is the
commercialization of sustainable aviation jet fuels, and in particular biojet fuels, with the
objective to pursue fuel solutions that can be cost-competitive with conventional jet fuel
in the mid to long term.
1 By “sustainable alternative aviation jet fuels” we mean fuels from renewable sources (in the foreseeable future
mostly from feedstock of vegetable or animal origin [“biojet fuel”] or from waste material) meeting the specifications
for use in jet aircraft as a drop-in fuel and meeting recognized sustainability standards, such as EU-RED, US-RFS2
or RSB, and in particular the greenhouse gas reduction requirements contained therein.
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This needs to include all relevant stakeholders:
Agriculture and feedstock developers
Private and public investors
Technology providers
Relevant international organizations, and
policy makers
Sustainable aviation fuel producers
Fuel logistics suppliers
Certification authorities
Research establishments, especially for
biomass, sustainability etc.
Airlines
Airport authorities
Other alternative fuel users such as other
transport modes
IATA’s role
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IATA’s role representing the global community of international airlines is to:
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Bring together different stakeholders from industry and policymakers in the
alternative fuel area and facilitate cooperation and partnerships between them
o
Provide policy support at national, regional (e.g. EU) and international (UN) level
to create the necessary framework for the commercialization of sustainable
aviation fuels
o
Work towards removing obstacles to the realization of a cost-competitive,
sustainable aviation jet fuel market
o
Establish a roadmap evaluating the short and long-term potential for alternative
fuels
o
Promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels in compliance with robust
sustainability criteria
o
Raise public awareness for related industry efforts
o
Play a leading role in standard setting for alternative drop-in fuels by in the areas
of technical certification and logistics, and provide related technical support
o
Create a platform for knowledge exchange, both amongst airlines and for
external partners (e.g. airports)
Concrete Actions
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Bring together different stakeholders
o
Hold events and meetings bringing different stakeholders together and facilitate
partnerships between them
o
Support national / regional multi-stakeholder biojet fuel initiatives and facilitate
regional supply chain projects
o
Organize regional working groups within ENCOM, according to local experience,
type of biomass and progress obtained so far in production, commercialization
and use of biojet fuel
o
Work with airports interested in supplying sustainable alternative jet fuels
o
Engage with other stakeholders, including major oil companies, towards creating
a sustainable alternative jet fuel supply chain
o
Explore synergies with the transport sector, e.g. encouraging dual fuel
production capabilities
o
Identify research needs to solve gaps and problems in alternative fuel
implementation
Provide policy support
o
Work with governments worldwide and relevant international organizations to
create incentives and support for sustainable alternative jet fuel producers and
users
o
Promote legislation that allows aviation a level-playing field with other transport
modes
o
Develop and promote user-friendly accounting schemes for sustainable
alternative jet fuel use and the related carbon footprint
o
Work towards mutual recognition (and potentially harmonization) of different
(national and regional) sustainability standards and methodologies
Remove commercial obstacles
o
Encourage airlines to manifest their willingness to purchase biofuels, e.g.
through off-take agreements with suppliers
o
Support the aviation industry's long term commitment to sustainable jet fuels,
thus giving the required confidence to investors and producers
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Roadmap for sustainable alternative jet fuels
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Draft a sustainable alternative jet fuel roadmap evaluating the potential for such
fuels in the short and long-term up to 2050
o
Obtain stakeholder engagement for steps
demonstration flights to large-scale deployment
along
the
roadmap
from
Promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels and raise public awareness
o
Support the use of biomass and biofuels with recognized sustainability
certification
o
Raise awareness with governments, NGOs and the travelling public for the
aviation industry’s efforts towards sustainability
o
Develop communication materials, possibly a road show and Q&As, to help the
advocacy for sustainable alternative fuels
o
Disseminate information on airline activities in the area of sustainable jet fuels
Leading role in standard setting
o
Set relevant airline standards, such as alternative jet fuel handling procedures,
name conventions etc.
o
Represent airlines in the technical certification process (ASTM etc.)
Create a platform for knowledge exchange
o
Lead airline expert group under ENCOM
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Provide guidance material for cooperation between stakeholders (e.g. BioGuide)
o
Offer training courses for airlines and other stakeholders involved in sustainable
aviation fuels