The Head of Net Zero Research & Programs at IATA, Preeti Jain. NEW DELHI: The need for producing Sustainability Aviation Fuel (SAF) extensively to meet the airline industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050 came up for extensive discussions during the recent annual meet by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The Association also announced that it would soon launch the SAF Matchmaker, which will connect the eco-friendly fuel suppliers globally with the airlines in order to usher in transparency in the SAF market.
With 30% of the operational costs of most airlines going towards buying fuel, where does India, the third biggest aviation market globally, find itself on the SAF front?
The Head of Net Zero Research & Programs at IATA, Preeti Jain, told this reporter, “The Jet fuel demand consumption in the world annually is 300 million tonnes but only one million tonnes of SAF have been produced globally last year and this throws open a massive opportunity. India has the potential to produce around 40 million tonnes of SAF by 2050. This is a real economic opportunity for rural Indian transformation and to fuel sustainable aviation growth and it must not be missed.”