Fiji Airways operates its 1st flight on SAF, seeks future supply

Photo: Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, announced Aug. 31 that its newest Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft, named the Island of Vatulele, arrived into Nadi, Fiji, from Singapore, having flown the entire 5,300-mile journey powered by a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend.

This is the first time ever that Fiji Airways has operated a flight using a blend of SAF.

Andre Viljoen, the CEO and managing director of Fiji Airways, said that this inaugural SAF blend-powered flight demonstrates Fiji Airways’ commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring a sustainable future for aviation.

"As the national carrier of a small island developing state, we are acutely aware of the need for urgent action to combat climate change,” he said. “As an airline, most of our carbon emissions are generated by using jet fuel, so to meaningfully reduce our carbon footprint, we must embrace using a blend of sustainable fuels.”

SAF is produced from sustainable materials and produces significantly less carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel.

“By using sustainable fuels, Fiji Airways and all airlines can make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change,” Viljoen said. “While we may be a small airline, we have a bold sustainability vision. We firmly believe that every airline, regardless of size, can and must contribute to the preservation of our planet.”

Fiji Airways is about to launch a global fuel-supply tender in order to secure future supply of SAF to meet its sustainability objectives.

“SAF comes with its own set of challenges because the production processes are complex, and there are only a small number of producers,” Viljoen said. “Consequently, sustainable fuels are significantly more expensive than conventional jet fuel—between four and eight times—and are in short supply.”

Viljoen added that many larger airlines with more resources have already bought up significant quantities of future SAF capacity, making it somewhat challenging to secure future supply.

“As demand for sustainable fuels increases, we will see investment and production ramp up, and it will become much easier and more affordable for airlines to acquire SAF,” he said. “We are exploring all options, including the potential for SAF production in Fiji.”

The Island of Vatulele will be the fourth next-generation Airbus A350 aircraft to enter the Fiji Airways fleet.

Fiji Airways now has one of the youngest, most modern and most fuel-efficient fleets of aircraft in the world, according to the airline.