UK aviation coalition calls for sector to be at heart of Government’s green recovery plan

The Sustainable Aviation coalition has called for UK aviation to be at the heart of the Government’s economic recovery strategy in a letter to the Transport Secretary.
The coalition said there needed to be a joined-up approach to decarbonising aviation that will enable the country to rapidly bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To achieve this, the Sustainable Aviation has called on Government to capitalise on the UK’s world leading position on sustainable aviation fuel technology by committing £500m to support early stage projects.
This follows news that Europe’s first municipal waste-to-jet fuel facility – Altalto Immingham – was granted planning permission in North East Lincolnshire.

The coalition also called for Government to work with industry to:

•  Develop aircraft and engine technology R&D capabilities, ensuring the UK is among the first in the world to develop hybrid and electric aircraft;
• Accelerate UK airspace modernisation, to make use of new aircraft performance capability and reduce emissions and noise;
• Progress robust carbon offset measures and carbon removal technologies.

Adam Morton, chairman of Sustainable Aviation, said: “In February this year, UK aviation committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and laid out a plan to achieve this through investing in cleaner aircraft and engine technology, smarter flight operations, sustainable aviation fuels and high-quality carbon offsets and removals.

“Three months on, these actions all remain essential to delivering sector wide decarbonisation, particularly given the role UK aviation can play as an engine for rebuilding the economy. But to capitalise on these opportunities we need urgent action from Government, particularly to support the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel technology in the UK.”

Full article