The UK Government has established the Jet Zero Council in a bid to launch the first-ever emission-free transatlantic flight within a generation. Its strategy is to reduce aviation emissions, decarbonise the sector and allow people to keep flying.
Pre-pandemic, aviation contributed at least £22 billion to the nation's economy and 230,000 direct jobs across the country. Ministers state it is crucial that it supports the rapid development of technologies that maintain the benefits of air travel whilst maximising the opportunities that decarbonisation brings to the UK.
Those opportunities include the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which could support up to 5,200 jobs by 2035 and help regenerate industrial sites across the country, notably in areas outside London, such as the north-east, contributing to levelling up the UK and improving our fuel security.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "We have today set out a new commitment of having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction by 2025, and we have also confirmed that the government will mandate at least 10 per cent SAF to be blended into conventional aviation fuels by the end of the decade – one of the most ambitious targets globally."
The Jet Zero Council includes members of the airlines and airports industries. Steve Heapy, chief executive of airline and tour operator Jet2, said: "We are delighted to have been appointed to the Jet Zero Council today, a move which brings greater regional representation to the body and will allow us to move forward our ambition to be one of the leading brands in sustainable air travel and package holidays.
"Travel and tourism is a force for good, and making this more sustainable is an absolute priority for us. We have been working closely with Government as members of the SAF Delivery Group for some time, and becoming official members of the Jet Zero Council means we can have a bigger voice at the table at this critical time, working with Government and industry to ensure we reach net zero as fast as possible.”
Manchester Airports Group chief executive, Charlie Cornish, added: "Decarbonisation is one the most important issues facing our society and at MAG we are committed to playing a full role in the aviation industry achieving Net Zero. The publication of the Jet Zero Strategy is an important recognition by Government of the commitments made by our industry for a more sustainable future.
“We will be working even more closely with our industry partners and the UK Government through the Jet Zero Council, to make real and measurable progress against the targets we have in place. MAG has always taken a proactive and ambitious approach to decarbonisation for over a decade, and I am proud of the work we have delivered over that time."
MAG, which also owns and operates London Stansted and East Midlands airports, has long been an industry-leader in aviation decarbonisation and sustainability and is currently working hard to make its operations net zero carbon by 2038.
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