Greener flights will cost more but will reduce carbon emissions by 70%

Sustainable Aviation, an industry group representing UK aviation, has said that efforts to decarbonise air travel are likely to increase ticket prices, which could deter some passengers from flying. 

Measures such as using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is several times more expensive to produce than traditional jet fuel, will “inevitably reduce passenger demand”, according to the group, which includes airlines such as British Airways, airports such as Heathrow, and manufacturers like Airbus. 

However, the group also found that people will “still want to fly” despite “slightly higher costs”, and that annual passenger numbers are still expected to rise by almost 250 million by 2050. 

SAF, which is produced from sustainable sources such as agricultural waste, reduces carbon emissions by 70% compared with traditional jet fuel and is set to account for at least 75% of the fuel used in UK flights by 2050. 

The Sustainable Aviation group argued that the move to greener travel represents a big opportunity for the UK, which has the world’s third-largest global aviation network. 

The government is investing in up to five new SAF production plants, but the group warned that the UK risks missing out on investment if it fails to close the gap in price between SAF and traditional jet fuel.