DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways has signed a pledge to support the airline industry’s commitment to sustainable aviation fuels.  As a member of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), a world-leading environmental research programme, the pledge unites Qatar’s national airline with industry leaders to drive the development and commercialisation of sustainable aviation biofuels.

As a global aviation operator, Qatar Airways will contribute its substantial sustainable aviation fuel knowledge and expertise to emerging industry programmes that are developing sustainable biofuels in an effort to achieve lower and more efficient greenhouse gas emissions.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Aviation will make a significant contribution to the global response to climate change, and Qatar Airways is contributing towards the development of local and international solutions. Our investment in flying fuel efficient aircraft and focus on optimising environmental performance across our modern fleet demonstrates our leadership in the continued pursuit for lower carbon air travel.

“Qatar Airways is represented on IATA’s most senior environmental committee, and together with our commitment to SAFUG, we are fully united with our aviation partners in our shared ambition to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. It will take time and shared vision to advance the development, certification, and commercial use of sustainable aviation fuels and Qatar Airways has the ambition to meet this challenge and achieve change.”

Qatar Airways’ fuel optimisation programme is one example of how it is working towards the airline industry’s target to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent each year to 2020 and to deliver carbon neutral growth beyond this date. This initiative involves testing and implementing new methods to save fuel and reduce carbon emissions such as reducing aircraft weight; optimising route efficiency; and using only a single engine while taxiing from the runway.

A commitment to the SAFUG Pledge will see Qatar Airways’ experts working in partnership with governments and industry representatives in response to global climate change challenges, identifying research projects and sharing best practice and innovations into the development of lower carbon and renewable fuels derived from environmentally and socially sustainable sources.