Aeroméxico plans to increase use of sustainable fuels

By 2050, most of Aeroméxico’s aircraft fuel will be less polluting compared to the current fuel, which is obtained from oil, reported Karen Farías, director of Environmental, Social Sustainability and Governance at Aeroméxico.

In a workshop with the media, he explained that currently 1.6 percent of the fuels used by the firm’s fleet are sustainable (SAF, for its acronym in English). sustainable aviation fuel).

By 2030 the proportion is expected to rise to 5 percent and gradually increase by 2050.

According to the Ministry of Energy (Sener), SAF is a type of biofuel manufactured with renewable resources, such as organic oils, and generates 75 percent less carbon emissions than fossil fuel for airplanes.

Currently, aircraft can use a combination of up to 50 percent renewable turbine fuel, mixed with traditional petroleum fuel, according to a Sener document.

In December 2021, United Airlines flew the first passenger flight from Chicago to Washington only with SAF.

Karen Farías explained that SAF has the same polluting effect when used in the airplane, but it is in its manufacturing process that up to 90 percent damage is generated to the environment compared to fuels derived from petroleum.

He commented that SAF are approximately five times more expensive than fossil fuels, but that there are countries that are asking airlines to increase the use of SAF to be able to land at their airports.

In the case of Aeroméxico, France requests that current 1.6 percent to be able to land at Charles de Gaulle airport.

Farías mentioned that the sector has had talks with Mexican authorities, including the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Ministry of Energy (SE) to find mechanisms to achieve greater use of SAF.