Heathrow and Heston Blumenthal’s café unveil Sustainable Aviation Fuel breakfast
Heathrow Airport, in collaboration with renowned chef Heston Blumenthal’s Perfectionists’ Café, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at raising awareness about Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and its pivotal role in decarbonising the aviation industry.
The initiative introduces a unique breakfast experience, named The Fly Up, which not only offers passengers a delicious start to their day but also showcases the innovative use of SAF in culinary applications.
The Fly Up breakfast, developed in partnership with Heston Blumenthal, is cooked using oil that is subsequently cleaned and recycled into renewable biofuels.
This innovative approach not only demonstrates the potential of SAF but also addresses the pressing need for sustainable solutions within the aviation sector.
Despite its significance, recent research reveals that only 14% of travellers are aware of SAF, highlighting the importance of initiatives like The Fly Up in increasing understanding and acceptance of this crucial technology.
SAF represents a significant opportunity for the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint and work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Heathrow has been at the forefront of promoting the use of SAF, with ambitious targets to incorporate it into its operations. Currently, over 95% of the airport’s operational diesel fleet runs on HVO biodiesel, showcasing its commitment to sustainable practices on the ground. Additionally, Heathrow aims to have 11% of the jet fuel used at the airport derived from SAF by 2030.
In pursuit of its sustainability goals, Heathrow has implemented a pioneering Sustainable Aviation Fuel scheme, which incentivises airlines to use SAF by reducing the price gap between conventional jet fuel and SAF. This initiative has already seen significant success, with approximately 10% of the world’s SAF used at Heathrow in 2022.
Looking ahead, the airport aims to further increase the proportion of SAF used, with a target of 2.5% of all fuel used at Heathrow to be SAF by 2024.
The launch of The Fly Up breakfast coincides with Heathrow’s efforts to educate passengers about the benefits of SAF and encourage them to support sustainable aviation initiatives.
By partnering with climate tech company CHOOOSE, Heathrow offers passengers the opportunity to contribute to SAF or certified reforestation projects, regardless of their airline or destination.
This initiative aims to empower passengers to make more environmentally conscious travel choices and support the transition to sustainable aviation.
Matt Gorman, Director of Carbon at Heathrow, emphasised the significance of partnerships like The Fly Up in driving awareness and adoption of SAF. He stated,
We want people to understand how SAF is a real solution to decarbonise aviation and show how we’re continuing our mission to get to Net Zero by 2050.
Carlos Santos, Head Chef at The Perfectionists’ Café, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting The Fly Up breakfast as a positive step towards a more sustainable future for air travel.
Karolien De Hertogh, Director Sales U.K. and Ireland at United Airlines, underscored the airline’s commitment to sustainability and praised initiatives like The Fly Up for raising awareness about SAF and its potential to decarbonise aviation.
Heathrow’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its own operations, with initiatives like The Fly Up serving as catalysts for industry-wide change.
As the aviation industry transitions towards net-zero emissions, initiatives that promote awareness and adoption of sustainable practices will play a crucial role in shaping the future of air travel.
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