Airbus shrinks carbon footprint on jet deliveries

Airbus has become the first aircraft manufacturer to offer its customers the option of new jets being delivered using a blend of sustainable jet fuel.
The 15th A350-900 for Cathay Pacific departed Toulouse on June 1 bound for Hong Kong, with a 10-per-cent blend of sustainable jet fuel in its tanks. 
Since the first delivery in May last year, all of Cathay Pacific’s A350s have been delivered in this configuration, the airline said in a statement.
The “biofuel delivery flight concept”, originally devised by Cathay Pacific in 2015 is now in full operation and this latest delivery confirms that the supply chain set up a year ago by Airbus and Total is functioning well, from the fuel production through integrated management at its Saint-Martin Toulouse site and final delivery.
“This is a major step for Airbus and a first for the regular delivery of new production aircraft,” said Frederic Eychenne, in charge of new energies at Airbus. “It enables us to demonstrate that aviation biofuels are today a reality. We now plan to expand this initiative to all our delivery sites close to our customers.”
The first deliveries from Hamburg, Germany, and Mobile in the US state of Alabama using this type of biofuel are planned for 2018. Since 2016, Airbus has offered this option from Toulouse.
The aim is to continue reducing the “carbon footprint” of each flight, starting with the aircraft delivery. 
“Right from the first day of operation, an airline can clearly demonstrate its aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, thus helping to meet the commitments of the international civil aviation community,” Eychenne said.