Korean airlines are set to operate aircraft that are fueled with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is mixed fuel and ranks 20th in the world. Sustainable aviation fuel is an environmentally friendly fuel that can reduce the average carbon emissions of conventional aviation fuel by up to 80% without being made from fossil fuels. Today, starting with Korean Air aircraft flying from Incheon to Haneda, Korean airlines such as T’way Air, Asiana Airlines, are planning to fuel their aircraft with fuel mixed with 1% sustainable aviation fuel by the end of this year.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a strategy for the widespread use of sustainable aviation fuel at the 2nd terminal of Incheon International Airport today (31st), together with aviation and oil industry officials. The government signed a memorandum of understanding for the commercial operation of sustainable aviation fuel in cooperation with Korean airlines, domestic oil refiners, Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Korea Airports Corporation to enhance mutual cooperation in expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the future.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Incheon International Airport Corporation plan to provide various incentives to airlines using sustainable aviation fuel to create an eco-friendly hub airport. The government also plans to promote the mandatory blending of sustainable aviation fuel on all international flights departing from South Korea starting from 2027 when the International Civil Aviation Organization’s international aviation carbon regulations are strengthened.
To minimize the impact on airfares in case of additional costs incurred by airlines in the future, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to consider measures such as the so-called aviation carbon mileage program. Plans are also being made to expand the production of sustainable aviation fuel domestically by providing tax incentives for R&D facility investments by domestic companies and other incentives to alleviate the high production costs of sustainable aviation fuel. Currently, sustainable aviation fuel is being used for commercial flights in 19 countries worldwide for climate crisis response, and the EU will mandate its use in combination with conventional aviation fuel from next year.
If 1% of sustainable aviation fuel is used, it is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 160,000 tons based on South Korea’s international aviation carbon emissions of about 20 million tons this year.