Alternative jet fuel flight makes history for Qatar

At Qatar Airways environmental
initiatives continue to get the green
light as the airline sets about its
goal of becoming one of the greenest in
the world.
Having in 2009 joined the Aviation
Global Deal Group that aims to
develop a global policy dealing with
carbon emissions, the airline has also
partnered with Iata in establishing a
carbon offset trading assurance which
will offer passengers the opportunity to
fly carbon neutral.
“We take environmental
conservation very seriously and
continue to adopt steps in our efforts to
become one of the greenest airlines in
the world,” says a spokesman for the
company.
In October last year the airline
made aviation history when it saw the
world’s first commercial passenger
flight powered by alternative jet fuel
produced from natural gas take to the
air. This milestone flight was the first
step in making this alternative fuel
available to airlines.
“The fuel burns with lower sulphur
dioxide and particulate emissions than
pure conventional oil-based kerosene,
making it attractive for improving local
air quality at busy airports. GTL Jet
Fuel offers airlines access to alternative
oil-based conventional fuels. This
diversity of supply for the industry
– gas-based rather than oil-based –
will add a high quality drop-in blend
component to the global jet fuel pool
for many decades to come,” says the
spokesman. In January this year Qatar
Airways announced its entry into the
next phase of alternative fuels with a
decision to jointly carry out engineering
and economic analysis to develop
sustainable bio jet fuel that will also
look into ways for production and
supply, with the support of Airbus.
“It is about leading the charge
towards environmental sustainability
and corporate social responsibility,”
says the airline in a statement. “”We
are committed to the environment and
want to position ourselves as a leader in
new-generation fuel research.”