20 September, 2018: Airbus will deliver its first aircraft partially powered by sustainable jet fuel from its A320 Family production facility in the US. The latest A321 for JetBlue is due to depart Mobile, Alabama with 15 percent sustainable jet fuel in its tanks.
In total, five A321 aircraft are due to be delivered to the American low cost airline headquartered in New York City from Mobile using sustainable fuel by the end of this year. All of the fuel will be supplied and certified by Air BP, one of the world's largest suppliers of aviation fuel products and services. It will be loaded into the aircraft by Signature Flight Support, Airbus’ fueling services provider in Mobile.
Since May 2016, Airbus has offered customers the option of taking delivery of new aircraft from Toulouse, France, using a blend of sustainable jet fuel. Following the deliveries to JetBlue, Airbus will determine the next steps toward offering this option to more customers taking aircraft deliveries from Mobile. Longer term, Airbus envisions supporting industrial production of sustainable fuels for aviation in the southeastern US.
“It is an opportunity to work closely with local stakeholders to scale-up production and the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels in the region,” said Frederic Eychenne, Head of New Energies at Airbus. “We are actively seeking ideas to leverage Airbus’ strategy into opportunities for new economic development in Alabama.”