Airbus, Qantas to shortly announced joint investment in SAF

In Florida, Business Traveler USA reported that Airbus and Australian airline Qantas will shortly announce which early-stage sustainable aviation fuel projects will receive the first investment from a $200 million fund to kickstart the SAF industry in Australia. The two companies had established the fund last year as Qantas set a target of using 10% SAF in its fuel mix by the end of the decade and placed a multi-billion dollar order with Airbus for new planes, according to the report. Qantas chief sustainability officer Andrew Parker said the airline could meet its 2030 target solely by purchasing SAF in California and the UK but noted 70% of its total fuel is sourced from Australia. “We know we have to play a lead role in developing a domestic industry,” Parker reportedly said. Stephen Forshaw, Airbus’ regional chief representative, said the two companies are meeting weekly to discuss the project. “The first investment has been made but not fully closed yet,” he told reporters ahead of the Australia International Airshow. “We’ve both agreed to it, and I think we’ll make some announcements probably in the next month or so around the completion of that.” Qantas aims to use 60% SAF in its fuel mix by the middle of the century to meet its 2050 net-zero target.

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