Jet2.com has announced that it will use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on flights from Bristol Airport in 2024.

The airline will utilise a blend of SAF nearly a year ahead of the UK's Government’s mandate, due for introduction in 2025.

Purchased from Q8Aviation, 300 tonnes of SAF will be used by Jet2.com to add a 1 per cent SAF blend for departing flights from Bristol this year.

These steps mean that the emission levels from the SAF blend will be 70 per cent lower than conventional aviation fuel.

Using the SAF blend not only backs the airline's environmental efforts but also helps prepare the airline for the UK's SAF mandate, scheduled to come into operation from January 1, 2025.

This initiative stipulates airlines to ensure that at least 10 per cent of jet fuel is composed of SAF by 2030.

Notably, the Transport Select Committee has identified SAF as a feasible strategy for immediate reduction of aviation emissions.

Jet2.com's commitment to SAF is already underway through an equity investment in a new SAF manufacturing plant in the North West of England.

This facility – one of the UK's firsts in aviation – spearheaded by Fulcrum BioEnergy Ltd, will be a Waste-to-Fuels plant.

Once in operation, Jet2.com is slated to receive over 200 million litres of SAF.

Additionally, the plant is expected to create approximately 1,500 jobs, thereby benefiting the national and local economy.

North Somerset Times: The airline will utilise a blend of SAF nearly a year ahead of the UK's Government’s mandate

The airline’s dedication to net-zero emissions by 2050 aligns with government targets, although Jet2.com aspires to accelerate these efforts.

Amongst the initiatives included in the published sustainability strategy is the acquisition of 98 Airbus A320/A321 neo aircraft.

As of yet, the company has taken delivery of five of these.

Jet2.com's sister company, Jet2holidays, has also recently launched a hotel sustainability labelling scheme, allowing customers to easily identify and select from certified sustainable hotels that satisfy Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Recognised standards.

Despite these noteworthy strides in SAF adoption, the lack of a well-established domestic SAF industry keeps the UK dependent on imported, high-cost fuel or obligates airlines to pay an exorbitant buy-out price.

This creates a competitive disadvantage for UK airlines and holidaymakers.

CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, Steve Heapy, said: "Travel and tourism is a force for good and, like all industries, we know how critical it is to mitigate our climate impacts.

"We see SAF as essential in helping the industry do this, which is why we are using a SAF blend at Bristol Airport in 2024."

He further added: "There is still a long way to go to unlock the huge potential of a UK SAF industry.

"Without more supplies of UK SAF and greater support to incentivise its uptake and reduce its cost, our industry and UK holidaymakers are at a disadvantage.

"The UK Government must implement the price revenue mechanism earlier than the current timeline of 2026 which means we can secure investor confidence, build the UK SAF plants that we need, and turbocharge the UK SAF industry."