Soon-to-be oneworld member Fiji Airways has announced a collaboration with The Fiji Sugar Corporation and Lee Enterprises Consulting to study the feasibility of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in Fiji.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund and oversee the project’s implementation.
The study will evaluate the use of sugar cane and its waste products as inputs to ethanol production and additional sources of energy, which can subsequently be processed into SAF.
The study will also evaluate molasses, sugar, bagasse, and biomass as potential feedstocks for SAF production.
Like most airlines, Fiji Airways says it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, and setting a precedent for other airlines in the region to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives.
“This is a landmark project for Fiji and the South Pacific Region. The feasibility assessment will lay a foundation for Fiji’s national airline to meet its sustainability goals while utilizing local resources that will help to reinvigorate and transform the domestic sugar industry, create new jobs, and improve the lives of Fijians,” said Fiji Airways chief legal and sustainability officer, Peter Seares.
Separately, Fiji Airways has signed a preliminary agreement for Odys Aviation’s runway-independent hybrid VTOL cargo aircraft.
Pilot programmes using these aircraft are expected to commence in 2025.
Odys Aviation’s ‘Laila’ aircraft is designed in multiple configurations for cargo and, with up to a 400-mile range, could connect all of Fiji’s 330 islands.
Flights operated via these aircraft provide a low-carbon air cargo alternative and will open up new emergency medical routes that have, until now, been inaccessible because of infrastructure challenges.
“There’s no doubt that the era of sustainable aviation is upon us and through our partnership with Odys Aviation, Fiji Airways is strengthening its focus on reducing aviation emissions and defining a roadmap to serve the next generation of travelers,” said Andre Viljoen, CEO of Fiji Airways.
