The UK government has announced an investment of £63 million across 17 companies to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The funding is awarded through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF), which is a UK government initiative delivered by the Department for Transport to support the innovative fuel production technologies that can significantly reduce aviation emissions This latest allocation builds on previous successful rounds, bringing the total number of supported SAF initiatives to over 30. The newly funded projects highlight the technological diversity emerging in SAF production, with companies utilizing a wide array of feedstocks, from municipal waste and biogenic CO2 to sawmill residues and green hydrogen. All successful proposals are projected to achieve lifecycle emissions savings exceeding 65% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel, marking a significant step towards slashing flight emissions. Key recipients in the latest funding round include LanzaJet UK, which secured £10 million for Project Speedbird in Wilton, which will convert advanced bioethanol into SAF using ethanol-to-jet technology. “We’re proud that Project Speedbird, developed in partnership with British Airways, has been recognised by the Department for Transport as part of its continued commitment to advancing SAF in the UK,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. Alfanar Energy received £8 million for its Lighthouse Green Fuels facility in Stockton-on-Tees. The company is planning to use forestry residues processed via torrefaction, gasification, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Carbon Neutral Fuels was awarded £6 million for a Workington-based plant that will leverage solid oxide electrolysis and captured CO2 to produce synthetic SAF. British Sugar was granted £2.6 million for its Wissington plant, which will transform sugar beet residue ethanol into SAF through ethanol-to-jet processes. Additional recipients include Essar Oil UK in Stanlow, Equinor Low Carbon UK, ETFuels, Zero Petroleum, the University of Sheffield and Altalto Ltd. Funding recipient OXCCU Tech has already developed a demonstration plant at Oxford Airport. “Support from the Advanced Fuels Fund is a key step in scaling our technology. It brings us closer to producing lower-cost, lower-carbon aviation fuel and supports the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in SAF production,” stated Andrew Symes, CEO and Co-Founder of OXCCU. The EU and the UK have set 2% introductory SAF blending mandate starting from 2025. The UK aims to increase SAF blending mandates to 22% in 2040, while the EU has set a target of achieving 70% SAF blending by 2050. Several types of SAF pathways are currently approved for use in international flights. These include hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), alcohol-to-jet (ATJ), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydrothermolysis and microbial conversion. SAFs are aviation-specific biofuels produced from waste and residues from circular economy-based feedstocks such as animal fats, used cooking oils, etc. to reduce CO2 emissions from air transport. Synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels, are another form of SAF. This article was first published by energy and chemicals information provider ICIS, which like Cirium is RELX-owned.

CityJet commercial chief Cathal O'Connell has departed after more than a decade in the role. O'Connell states in a LinkedIn post that his last day with the Irish regional wet-lease specialist was 1 August. He observes that over the past decade management has reshaped CityJet from being a London City-centric scheduled airline into "Europe's leading regional wet-lease provider with a significant Scandinavian focus". "I look forward to remaining active in the industry and staying in touch with colleagues and friends in aviation at home and abroad," he states. Prior to joining CityJet O’Connell worked for BMI Regional as commercial chief and chief executive, and before that was with Aer Arann and Eastern Airways.

Regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has delivered a new ATR 42-600 (MSN 1801) on long-term lease to Afrijet, operating as FlyGabon. The turboprop, bearing the registration TR-LKA, was delivered on 30 July. Afrijet placed an order for an ATR 42-600, taking an option on another, in September 2024. "This versatile aircraft will mainly fly domestic routes within Gabon, and it has the ability to serve remote destinations," states Afrijet chair Marc Gaffajoli. Excluding the latest addition, FlyGabon operates two ATR 72-600s and an MHIRJ CRJ900 jet. This is Afrijet's first operating lease with TrueNoord. The airline is TrueNoord's fifth African client, increasing the lessor's fleet in the region to 10 aircraft.