Photo: www.scmp.com
As China is facing a fast-growing demand for domestic and international air travel, the need to use greener fuels also rises. Luckily some efforts are being done as Boeing, Hainan Airlines and Sinopec recently celebrated the country’s first passenger flight with sustainable aviation biofuel. The premiere is considered a key environmental milestone for China’s commercial aviation industry.
The plane that ran on the green fuel was the regularly scheduled Hainan Airlines flight that connects Shanghai with Beijing, a trip which carried 100 passengers. The aircraft is a next-generation 737-800 and it used biofuel made by Chinese oil and gas company Sinopec. It was created from waste cooking oil collected form restaurants in China. To be completely honest, the fuel was only half bio, since it was blended with conventional petroleum jet fuel.
According to Boieng’s press release, sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to petroleum through its lifecycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation’s growth while meeting environmental goals.
And China totally needs this type of change, considering the country’s pollution levels, international agreements to fight climate change and also the forecast of its growing need for air travel. The Boeing Current Market Outlook claims China will require 6,020 new airplanes by 2033 to meet the demand for domestic and international air flights.
"We are honored to see our airplane fly on sustainable aviation biofuel from Shanghai to our nation's capital," said Pu Ming, vice president of Hainan Airlines, who piloted the plane. "As a fast-growing domestic and international carrier, Hainan Airlines is demonstrating our environmental commitment by showing that aviation biofuel can play a safe and effective role in China's air transport system."
According to Boieng’s press release, sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to petroleum through its lifecycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation’s growth while meeting environmental goals.
And China totally needs this type of change, considering the country’s pollution levels, international agreements to fight climate change and also the forecast of its growing need for air travel. The Boeing Current Market Outlook claims China will require 6,020 new airplanes by 2033 to meet the demand for domestic and international air flights.
"We are honored to see our airplane fly on sustainable aviation biofuel from Shanghai to our nation's capital," said Pu Ming, vice president of Hainan Airlines, who piloted the plane. "As a fast-growing domestic and international carrier, Hainan Airlines is demonstrating our environmental commitment by showing that aviation biofuel can play a safe and effective role in China's air transport system."
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