IndiGo takes delivery of its first A320 neo plane powered with sustainable aviation fuel

country's largest airline IndiGo on Friday took delivery of its first aircraft from Airbus that operated on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel and normal fuel.

After plane landed at airport here from France on Friday, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said airline is also talking to a lot of manufacturers on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

While SAF is yet to be approved for commercial flights, various test flights, powered by such fuel, have been operated. SAF will reduce carbon emissions.

"IndiGo - has taken delivery of its first aircraft operating on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from Airbus... This is first international flight operated by any Indian carrier using SAF," airline said in a release.

A320 neo plane -- which took off from Toulouse in France on Thursday and landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here on Friday -- h a blend of 10 per cent SAF and 90 per cent normal fuel, according to airline officials.

Emphasising that IndiGo is committed to sustainability, Dutta said, "By 2050, we will be carbon neutral... It is not just a promise, we have an action plan in place".

Over a period from 2016 to 2023, airline is aiming at a 16 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, he said while speaking at an event at airport to mark arrival of aircraft.

Dutta said airline is talking to a lot of manufacturers, including Shell, and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehrun.

"y assure us... that as volumes pick up, cost will come down. It is a little bit of a chicken and egg; airline needs to get volume n refiners and producers will bring cost down. That's why we are all making baby steps. Let's start journey, start consuming SAF so that refiners can start producing more volumes. That is where we are," he said while responding to a question.

Rémi Maillard, President & Managing Director at Airbus India & South Asia, said it is committed to decarbonisation of aviation and SAF is an important pillar of sustainability strategy as that contributes to reductions in CO2 emissions.

He noted that all Airbus commercial aircraft are alrey certified to fly with 50 per cent SAF and by end of dece, by 2030, it will grow to 100 per cent.

"I am convinced that a carbon neutral aviation is not only possible but is also achievable during our lifetime. We at Airbus have ambition to bring first zero emission aircraft by mid of next dece," he ded.

IndiGo has been taking various sustainability measures, including conversion of coaches into electric ones. It is also looking at taxiing aircraft with electric vehicles.

Recently, IndiGo published its first ESG Report IndiGoGreen providing company's outlook towards good governance and an overview of environmental and social performance.

airline has a fleet of more than 275 aircraft. PTI RAM DRR