IAG to power 10pc of its flights with biojet by 2030

Airline group IAG aims to power 10pc of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), or biojet, by 2030.

The group, which operates British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus among others, said it will buy 1mn t/yr of SAF to cut its emissions by 2mn t/yr by 2030 and will extend its net-zero commitment to its supply chain.

"Government support is critical to meet this target by attracting investment to construct sustainable aviation fuel plants that will deliver enough supply for the airline industry, creating highly valued green jobs and economic growth at global scale," chief executive Luis Gallego said.

With the right policy in place, up to 14 plants could be built across the UK in the next 10 years, saving 3.6mn t/yr of CO2, according to IAG. The company said it is investing $400mn in the development of SAF in the next 20 years. It is partnering with SAF producer LanzaJet to build its first commercial facility in the US state of Georgia and will buy fuel from the plant for a number of its flights from late 2022. It is also building Europe's first commercial waste-to-fuel plant in Immingham, UK, in partnership with UK-based sustainable fuels technology company Velocys.

By Giulia Squadrin