Airlines go for biofuels

The goal of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an international industry trade group of airlines, is to see that alternative fuels represent 10% of aviation fuel consumption by 2017. Boeing, a major aerospace and defense company, foresees them being used regularly within three to five years, while Airbus, an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of European aerospace company EADS, believes that by 2030, up to 30% of aviation fuel will be alternative. The biggest challenge though, says Kapil Kaul, chief executive officer of South Asia of Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, is to ensure that biofuels can be mass produced at a low cost/high yield. ”Initial studies anticipate an 80% reduction in overall emissions due to biofuels.” (November 26, 2009)