Vistara, India’s leading full-service carrier, made history today as it became the first Indian airline to operate a commercial, domestic flight on a wide-body aircraft using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The flight, operated on Vistara’s brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flew from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, using a blend of 17% SAF and 83% conventional jet fuel. This pioneering initiative is part of Vistara’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and support a sustainable future for the aviation industry.
On this flight, Vistara reduced approximately 10,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions. This follows another milestone achieved last month when Vistara operated a wide-body aircraft on a long-haul international route using sustainable aviation fuel. A blend of 30% SAF and 70% conventional jet fuel was used on a ferry flight between Charleston International Airport, South Carolina, to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, which reduced approximately 150,000 pounds of CO2 emissions over the fuel’s life cycle.
Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer of Vistara, expressed his delight at the achievement, saying, “We have always been committed to driving sustainability and innovation in aviation and are delighted to carry out yet another industry-first initiative of operating a commercial flight on a wide-body using SAF. We are thankful to our partners and the relevant authorities for their support.”
Vistara is part of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines joint venture and has been working extensively towards reducing carbon emissions through sustainable technologies. Last year, they signed an MoU with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on developing, developing, and deploying sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Vistara is also working through the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), to lower CO2 emissions for international flights and to curb the industry’s impact on climate change.
Vistara has been recognized globally for its exceptional services, having been awarded several ‘Best Airline’ awards, including the ‘Best Airline in India and Southern Asia’ for two consecutive years. Additionally, the airline was recently named the ‘Best Overall Airline’ in Central/Southern Asia at the 2023 Regional Passenger Choice Awards.
The aviation industry has come under increasing pressure in recent years to reduce its carbon emissions, and initiatives such as Vistara’s use of sustainable aviation fuel are vital in achieving this goal. As one of India’s leading airlines, Vistara’s commitment to sustainability will no doubt inspire other airlines to follow suit.
Written by: Madhura Katti
