Vistara Operates Commercial Flight Using Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Vistara operated a commercial domestic flight on a wide-body aircraft using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time in India. Vistara's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flying from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai using a blend of 17 per cent SAF with 83 per cent conventional jet fuel, according to the media release.
On this flight, Vistara was able to reduce approximately 10,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, the statement said.
Last month, Vistara operated a wide-body aircraft on a long-haul international route using sustainable aviation fuel. A blend of 30 per cent SAF and 70 per cent conventional jet fuel was used on a ferry flight between Charleston International Airport, South Carolina to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, which resulted in the reduction of approximately 1,50,000 pounds of CO2 emissions over the fuel's life cycle.
On the development, the company’s CEO, Vinod Kannan said, “We have always been committed to driving sustainability and innovation in aviation and are delighted to carry out yet another industry-first initiative of operating a commercial flight on a wide-body using SAF. We are thankful to our partners and the relevant authorities for their support.”
The airline company, along with other airline companies of the TATA group, has been working extensively towards reducing carbon emissions through sustainable technologies. Last year, they signed an MoU with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on the research, development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).
TATA SIA Airlines, known by the brand name Vistara, is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. The airline has a fleet of 60 aircraft, including 46 Airbus A320, eight Airbus A321, two Boeing 737-800NG and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and has flown more than 45 million customers since starting operations.
