Alternative Fuels

IATA is dedicated to supporting its members and the entire air transport industry to reduce emissions of CO2.

Alternative fuels, particularly sustainable biofuels, have been identified as one of the key elements in helping achieve this goal. Biofuels derived from sustainable oil crops such as jatropha, camelina and algae or from wood and waste biomass can reduce the overall carbon footprint  by around 80% over their full lifecycle. Test flights using biofuels have been carried out by dozens of airlines and have proven that biofuels work and can be mixed with existing jet fuel. The airline industry has played an intrumental role in advancing technical certification for biofuels which can now be used on passenger flights. The first commercial flights using biofuels were achieved in 2011.

Our Objectives

• Continuity: build a long-term sustainable aviation industry
• Climate:  deliver on industry stated environmental goals
• Cost-competitiveness: pursue affordable biojet solutions

Our Focus

• Technical certification and sustainability of new fuels
• Ensuring biojet fuel can be dropped in to existing common fueling infrastructure
• Simple, harmonized biojet accounting and reporting procedures
• Best practices for biojet purchase and insurance
• Engaging governments to incentivize biojet production
• Bringing together stakeholders in biojet production and finance to identify suitable projects for funding

Supporting Resources

• IATA Reports on Alternative Fuels
• Biofuel Producers Directory
• IATA Training and Development Institute Biojet Fuel Workshop
• IATA Guidance Material for Biojet Fuel Management ("Bioguide")
 
• IATA is committed to making airlines' transition to biojet fuel as simple as possible. This first version of the IATA Guidance Material for Biojet Fuel Management (the BioGuide) incorporates the following four topics, each contained in its own chapter: (1) technical certification and handling of biojet fuel, (2) biojet sustainability certification, (3) compliance with emissions regulations, and (4) purchase contracts and insurance.