GitLab

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant market show in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing buyers with their sleek shapes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique forms of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the definitely less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and devoted to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to suppress emissions might make service jets more attractive to ecologically mindful purchasers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from shareholders or green project groups.

The schedule of less polluting private jets could likewise spare the rich and famous the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The most recent waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions globally, but can emit, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his occasional use of private jets to ensure his family's security, and has actually stated that on the uncommon celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his itinerary have added fresh difficulties for an industry already aiming to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including using private jets are regrettable when you consider that our industry has provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased fuel usage will assist the market make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to market data, billionaires only have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain doubtful that biojetfuels, generally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial effect on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from organization jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far exceeds supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow said.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and specialists are also seeing more interest from clients who wish to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a business jet utilization study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)