Towards a greener future!

The percentage of fuel-efficient aircraft in airline fleets is expected to climb rapidly in the coming years in India

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India is increasingly focusing on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it prepares to become the third-largest aviation market in the world. Worldwide, the SAF market is predicted to grow from $219 million in 2021 to $15,7 billion by 2030.

When it comes to taking viable and long lasting steps in its quest to achieve decarbonisation, India's airline fleet beats the world's current, in-service airline fleet hands down. According to data provided by the European aerospace corporation Airbus, only about 20 per cent of the world's current, in-service airline fleet comprises the latest generation of aircraft, with most of the commercial airline aircraft in use today being previous-generation fuel guzzlers. Meanwhile, 59 per cent of India's airline fleet comprises the latest generation, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Over the coming few decades, fleet modernisation- a mid-term solution to bring down the aviation industry's carbon emissions, is set to see the percentage of fuel-efficient aircraft go up globally. By 2041, new-generation passenger aircraft will represent 95 per cent of the operated fleet, as per the latest Airbus Global Services forecast (20222041).

In India, the percentage of fuel-efficient aircraft in airline fleets is expected to climb rapidly in the coming years. Newly-privatised carrier Air India, reportedly in the advanced stages of negotiating a major fleet renewal and expansion, is expected to soon announce a huge order for the latest-generation aircraft. However, IndiGo- India's largest carrier with a 56 per cent market share, currently operates the majority of the green fleet.