Qantas customers to be given new option to offset emissions

Sydney,Australia - February 20, 2016: A QANTAS Boeing 737 taxies towards the terminal after landing at the city's airport. QANTAS is the flag carrier for Australia.

Qantas passengers will soon have the option to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to offset their emissions as the Flying Kangaroo expands its carbon offset program.

Graeme Potger, Qantas’ SAF chief, yesterday told a Bioenergy Australia conference that a new feature was coming to Qantas that would allow its passengers to purchase SAF when booking flights, according to The Australian.

SAF has the ability to reduce carbon emission by up to 80 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel. Demand for SAF has risen after a range of international airlines, including Qantas, have made steps towards the aviation industry’s global pledge for net zero by 2050.

Greame Potger, Qantas chief of sustainable aviation fuel, speaking at Australian Renewable Fuels Week (LinkedIn/Graeme Potger)

Potger said the program would happen “pretty soon” as customers can make investments towards SAF or contribute towards industry development.

“If you look at what other airlines are doing, they are either directing it to incremental SAF purchases or in the case of United, they are directing those contributions towards industry development,” Potger said.

“We are doing a lot of market research now to see what resonates with our customers.”

Major fuel producer Neste told the conference that on its current trajectory, Australia would fall short by 14 per cent in hitting its 2030 target. Neste public affairs head Stephen Bartholomeusz said biofuels will be important for Australia to reduce this gap.

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