Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Eurocontrol on Tuesday released a so-called snapshot showing the distribution and availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Europe, underscoring the progress still needed to meet the agency’s “aspirational goal” of a 10 percent use rate on the continent by 2030. Now accounting for .05 percent of total jet fuel consumption, SAF use in such volumes would reduce CO2 emissions from EU departing flights by 8 percent, according to Eurocontrol.

 


The agency calls logistical considerations for getting the fuel to airports a “crucial issue.” In 2019, just 39 of 1,657 EU airports accounted for 80 percent of the volume of conventional fuel used by aircraft departing from EU airports. Therefore, instead of distributing SAF evenly over all 1,657 EU airports, concentrating on the fuel supply chain at those 39 airports would prove a more efficient tack, according to Eurocontrol. Providing a 12.5 percent SAF blend to those airports would achieve the same 8 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from flights departing the EU. So far only seven of the 39 airports (Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Stockholm-Arlanda, Hamburg, and Munich) have started to supply SAF.

 


SAF now costs some double the price of fossil jet fuel. Therefore, the use of 12.5 percent SAF in the fuel mixture would lead to a subsequent increase in total fuel costs of 12.5 percent for airlines. Eurocontrol suggests that some airlines might consequently consider increasing their use of economic tankering, which would threaten the acceleration of the decarbonization of aviation. The increase in costs would also reduce the competitiveness of airlines operating from the EU, therefore requiring what Eurocontrol calls rebalancing measures.

 


Full fuel hedging at a unique price at all airports an airline operates would present one option to avoid fuel tankering, said the agency. &nbsp;Another would involve increasing the cost of CO2 allowances to a “dissuasive level,” or potentially equalizing the tax rates on fuel.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Eurocontrol Calls SAF Distribution ‘a Crucial Issue’

Europe’s air traffic management agency has released a snapshot of airports that provide SAF on the continent.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN