Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker.
Doha: Qatar's flag carrier, Qatar Airways, reiterated its sustainability commitment in reducing carbon emission in fighting climate change, and that there is a big movement to find alternative fuel, “they have to do it, sooner or later, and this is why we have a time frame,” said Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker.
International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) made a monumental decision to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. A huge chunk of the carbon abatement comes through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which accounts to 65 percent; followed by 19 percent through offsets, carbon capture; 13 percent from hydrogen and electric propulsion, and 3 percent from more efficient operations. SAF is between two and four times the price of conventional jet fuels.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, the world’s biggest airlines association said the aviation industry is “demanding more product.” “Bottom line is if they are not going to do it, others will,” he said this during IATA’s AGM and World Air Transport Summit which concluded yesterday in Doha.
“This is a business opportunity. You no longer need to have oil in the ground to produce fuel. There are many feed stocks available to produce sustainable fuels, this is an opportunity to create new industries in the country, for countries to reduce their dependence on importing oil... produce sustainable jobs and they will help the environment,” the IATA head said.
Al Baker, meanwhile, revealed that the research being done by Qatar University to produce affordable and sustainable biofuels is in “good progress.”
The results of the ground-breaking research are “very positive,” according to Al Baker. The state-backed QR45.5m biofuel project started a decade ago. “I think once they mastered the process, they will be able to produce large amount SAF. As for me, I will be delighted to refuel my aircraft as much as possible provided, I don’t have a problem paying 20 percent more than my current cost of fuel to fuel our aircraft with SAF,” the Group Chief Executive explained.
However, switching to SAF is associated with a “massive cost,” said Walsh, but they must make the transition. “It will have an impact on price. Fuel is the single biggest element of airline in the cost base. If you look in the industry, from 2010-2019, fuel represents 27 percent of the industry’s cost. Ultimately, this [cost] will be reflected to ticket prices, it may slow down the growth but will not eliminate the ability of people to travel.”
Meanwhile, Al Baker stressed anew that the airline industry should not be the sole target of emissions contributions. “Our job is only to promote our industry that airlines are not really the kind of polluters that are being constantly accused of, it is the job of the regulators to impose the kind of emission control to airports and airport equipment, nothing to do with the airline, or nothing to do with the IATA,” he explained.
