Will others follow United in biofuels?

United Airlines wants to be the leader in commercial aviation in sustainable development, ranging from regular use of biofuels to various integrated initiatives.

The Chicago-based carrier recently renewed a two-year contract for the supply of biofuels to World Energy, while simultaneously working to reduce waste on planes, including dropping plastic straws and sticks in favor of 39, biodegradable options for biodegradable options.

United has gone one step further in these commitments, demonstrating its various sustainability initiatives on the A310 UA-Los Angeles flight from Chicago O & # 39; Hare. He claims that flying, operated with a Boeing 737-900ER, is the "greener commercial flight" ever used with a blend of biofuels, producing cabin-less waste and carbon offsets.

737-900ER "Ecological Sky" United in Chicago O Hare

Edward Russell / FlightGlobal

Scott Kirby, United's president, told reporters, before the Chicago conference, that the initiatives were aimed at creating a "sustainable future" for the airline. And while reducing the amount of disposable plastics and the use of compostable porcelain onboard is important, the greatest environmental benefits will come from reducing fuel consumption.

"The area that will have the most significant impact on the environment is probably fuel," he said.

MOVE THE NEEDLE

Since 2016, United has been using World Energy's biofuels, formerly AltAir, from its Los Angeles hub. Alternative fuels helped cover about half a percent of its airport fuel requirements last year.The manager of the environmental strategy and the sustainability of the carrier Aaron Robinson said during the event.

The airline has used about one million gallons of biofuel, all from World Energy, in 2018. Although more than in recent years, this accounted for only a fraction of one percent of the world's total fuel consumption. billions of gallons of fuel burned during the year.

"It's true that it's a relatively small percentage today, but the only thing you can do is invest today so the company can grow, become profitable and 'It's reaching a size that makes sense,' says Kirby.

In 2015, United invested $ 30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy in exchange for a commitment from the company to provide the airline with at least 90 million gallons of biofuel over 10 years starting in 2017. Supply has not yet begun, says Robinson, citing the fundraising challenges of low oil prices in the mid-2010s.

"For new technologies, when they are still in their infancy, support can be critical to getting back on track and acting as a catalyst for economic sustainability," says Kirby.

Fulcrum plans to inaugurate a second refinery in Gary, Indiana, later this year. The facility is expected to provide biofuel at Chicago's O & H Hare Hub when it opens.

Bryan Sherbacow, World Energy's chief commercial officer, told FlightGlobal that United's willingness to sign biofuel contracts sent investors "the signal" that the airline industry was lagging behind in alternative fuels.

World Energy is investing $ 350 million in an eight-fold expansion of its Paramount refinery in California to produce up to 320 million gallons of biofuel per year, he said. Funding for this project was not a problem, he added, citing their contract with United as well as those with Boeing, Gulfstream and KLM.

IS IT WORTH IT?

Each airline boasts sustainable development efforts. Alaska Airlines claims the first flight powered by a blend of biofuels in the US in 2011, JetBlue Airways is focused on carbon offsets, while Delta Air Lines continues to reduce single-use plastics on its flights with his latest decision removing them from high end amenity kits.

"It's an increasingly important problem, but it's clear that Europe is more focused than the US," Cowen analyst Helane Becker said. sustainable development initiatives.

Other analysts have echoed this claim, saying that US investors have still not shown much interest in sustainable initiatives such as United's biofuels campaign.

United's leadership in biofuels seems to have been a bit of a chance to partner with the right supplier at the right time. As in the case of its pending Fulcrum contract, other airlines have forged partnerships with biofuel providers, for example Alaska with the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance, but none of them did not start receiving fuel on a regular basis.

"You can not get [biofuel] in size, "says Becker.

That did not stop United from trying. Kirby says the airline wants to increase its supply of alternative fuels and the percentage of its total fuel consumption from sustainable sources, but adds, they can not make all the difference to the global climate.

"It will only make this planet better if our competitors do it too," he says.