Colorful Guizhou Airlines recently conducted a domestic flight powered by jet fuel with a 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend as a part of its partnership with Airbus. This was the first-ever SAF-powered passenger-carrying commercial flight in China.
Xu Gang, Executive Vice President of Airbus and CEO of Airbus China, said: “2022 is a decisive year for Airbus China in terms of sustainable development. In October of this year, the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Center began to be used in delivery flights. SAF fuel, now we are thrilled to join hands with Colorful Guizhou Airlines to realize the first commercial flight of an Airbus aircraft using SAF fuel in mainland China."
Colorful Guizhou Airlines recently signed a partnership with Airbus along with Xiamen Airlines and Zhejiang Loong Airlines at the 14th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition to promote the use of SAF in passenger-carrying commercial flights in China.
The SAF was locally sourced from used cooking oil by SINOPEC Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Corporation, a state-owned petrochemical manufacturer. The company was the first RSB-certified SAF production unit in Asia and is currently the only manufacturer to produce and supply SAF within China.
Xiamen Airlines and Zhejiang Loong Airlines are scheduled to conduct their SAF-powered commercial flights soon, and Colorful Guizhou Airlines will likely start using SAF more shortly.