China Southern Airlines C919. Photo: Allora Empire Art / Shutterstock.com China Southern Airlines has operated Guangzhou's first flight powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), marking another milestone for the use of lower-carbon fuels in Chinese commercial aviation.
Flight CZ3599 departed Guangzhou using SAF, becoming the first SAF-powered service from the city and the first SAF flight operated by a C919 aircraft in the Greater Bay Area, according to the airline.
Photo: ShutterstockThe milestone brings together two developments in China's aviation sector: the gradual adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and the expansion of commercial operations involving the domestically developed C919 passenger aircraft.
SAF is designed to reduce aviation's carbon footprint compared with conventional jet fuel. Depending on the production pathway and lifecycle assessment, it can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can also be blended with conventional aviation fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport infrastructure within approved limits.
China Southern said the flight forms part of its ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and expand SAF adoption. The airline added that it plans to continue increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel as part of its longer-term environmental strategy.
The C919, developed by China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is the country's first domestically developed large passenger jet to enter commercial service.
Its growing presence in China's airline fleets has become an important part of the country's efforts to develop its domestic aviation manufacturing industry.
The Greater Bay Area, which includes Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and other southern Chinese cities, is a major aviation and economic hub. The latest flight adds a new chapter to the region's efforts to explore lower-emission aviation operations.