A tailwind for alternative aviation fuels: aireg and IATA to form Strategic Partnership

aireg and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have agreed to cooperate more closely on the development and commercial deployment of alternative aviation fuels. The aviation industry’s pioneering targets of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and a 50% cut in net CO2 emissions by 2050 will require increased uptake of sustainable aviation biofuels. aireg is working on innovative solutions for implementing these targets in the German market. Together, both partners share a vision that in the near future flying on climate-friendly sustainable alternative fuels will be commonplace.

Paul Steele, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Member and External Relations said: “The success of alternative aviation fuels depends on close cooperation between all stakeholders. The aviation industry has committed to ambitious emissions reduction targets, and an increasing share of alternative aviation fuels is a key part of our strategy to achieve those targets. The implementation of global targets, however, requires local solutions. aireg’s success in Germany can be multiplied by adapting it to other markets.”

Siegfried Knecht, Chairman of aireg said: “We are delighted with this strategic partnership that we have concluded today. While issues like feedstock supply and processing have to be approached differently in each country, international coordination and cooperation are needed to solve other issues. Together with IATA, we want to develop long-term solutions, for example financing and internationally recognized sustainability standards.”

The emissions goals of the global aviation industry stipulate that fuel efficiency will increase by 1.5% annually, aviation will achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020, and net CO2 emissions will be halved in 2050 compared to 2005 levels. These targets will be met through a four-pillar strategy comprising new technology (including sustainable biofuels), improved operations, better infrastructure, and the temporary use of a global market-based measure. By 2025, aireg, the German aviation initiative for alternative fuels, aims to replace 10% of German jet fuel demand with alternative fuels. To this end, international framework agreements for a supply of sustainable raw materials should be concluded and corresponding biorefinery capacity created.