Sustainable Fuels Show Aviation Is Bereft of Ideas
Low-carbon biofuels sound great, but they mask an industry with few efficiency gains left.
Feel-good marketing.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/BloombergAviation’s biennial Singapore Air Show is the industry’s chance to show off progress on everything from military might to passenger comfort. While there’s a lot of hardware and acrobatic skill on display this year, the event’s key themes of sustainability and innovation ring hollow.
Singapore’s government kicked off proceedings with the announcement that from 2026 it will force airlines to adopt sustainable aviation fuels — that emit up to 80% less carbon than kerosene — and hit passengers with a levy to fund the move. An economy-class ticket from Singapore to London will cost S$16 ($12) more based on current projections, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said, with higher rates for premium classes.