Refers to a liquid fuel produced from renewable or waste-based biological sources—such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, or certain non-food crops—and refined to power aircraft with significantly lower lifecycle carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel. Within aviation sustainability, it represents one of the most immediate and scalable pathways to decarbonising air travel, as it is engineered to be a “drop-in” replacement: it can be blended with traditional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport infrastructure without technical modifications.
In the context of tourism and global mobility, its importance lies in its ability to reduce the environmental footprint of flights, which are often the most emission-intensive component of an international journey. Airlines, airports, and destinations are increasingly incorporating this fuel into their sustainability strategies, using it to power specific routes, offset a portion of emissions from premium cabins or corporate travel, and support net-zero commitments. Hospitality brands and tour operators may highlight partnerships with carriers using this cleaner fuel, aligning their products with eco-conscious travellers who scrutinise the carbon impact of long-haul trips.
From an operational perspective, its deployment is still constrained by limited supply and higher cost compared with fossil-based kerosene, meaning it is commonly used in relatively low blend ratios and on selected routes. Nevertheless, aviation and tourism stakeholders—ranging from hotel groups and travel management companies to convention bureaus and destination marketing organisations—are starting to factor its availability into route development, sustainability certifications, and responsible travel marketing. Over time, wider production, supportive policy frameworks, and corporate demand from the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector and leisure segments are expected to increase its role in making air travel more compatible with global climate objectives.
Example: “To reduce the carbon footprint of its long-haul itineraries, the tour operator partnered with an airline that uses sustainable aviation fuel on key transatlantic routes.”
Synonyms: biojet fuel, renewable jet fuel, low-carbon aviation fuel, alternative aviation fuel, green jet fuel.
