China Eastern Airlines for the first time conducted a flight on an Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by a five percent blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The sustainable fuel-powered aircraft took off from the Airbus Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China. The latest conducted flight opens a new chapter in the sustainable aviation initiative for the Chinese aviation market. Sustainable Aviation Fuel is considered a key enabler to contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation sector.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a sustainably-produced aviation fuel produced from feedstocks ranging from used fat, oil and grease to municipal and forestry waste. SAF, compared to fossil jet fuel, has been in the demonstration to replace traditional fossil-based fuels and to result in up to 80% reduction in CO2 emissions across the entire SAF lifecycle. The SAF for the delivery flights in China is produced locally from used cooking oil by SINOPEC Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company which is a state-owned manufacturer in China. The fuel used in the A320neo is the first batch of Chinese SAF made by the only certified Chinese facility.