WestJet has announced a three-month commitment to operating flights from San Francisco International Airport to Calgary International Airport using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The Canadian airline plans to make the 1018 mile (1,638 km) trip between the two cities 40 times within the 3-month period, using SAF produced by engineering services firm, Neste. The trial is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 186 tons on these routes.
“We are thrilled that WestJet will be the first Canadian air carrier to operate a dedicated flight route using SAF,” said Angela Avery, WestJet Group executive vice-president and chief people, corporate, and sustainability officer.
The switch to SAF will mean that the equivalent of more than 1,550 out of 5,300 guests are taking a carbon-neutral flight en route to Calgary, and demonstrates WestJets commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
“This is an integral step in decarbonising Canada’s aviation sector and WestJet is committed to working alongside our partners to reduce our environmental footprint as we aim to drive greater awareness for the importance of a SAF ecosystem in Canada.” said Avery.
SAF is currently constrained by high costs, typically three to four times pricier than traditional fuels. To combat this, Singapore Airlines introduced a SAF credit system, allowing value-driven travellers to pay extra to offset their carbon emissions and stimulate the sustainable fuel industry.
The increase in production cost means there is also less SAF available in the market. Speaking to Bloomberg, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian made the point that if the airline were to fill all its planes for one day, the carrier would soak up a year’s worth of US SAF supply.
Aviation accounts for approximately 2 to 3% of global CO2 emissions, and as air travel is expected to double in the next 15 years, these numbers will grow rapidly. The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently announced its support for an ‘aspirational’ net-zero aviation goal by 2050, which was accepted by 193 ICAO member countries.
On the other side of the globe, the UK Government intends to deliver the world’s first net zero emissions transatlantic flight powered by 100% SAF by 2023.
