Virgin Australia has signed an agreement with Viva Energy to source Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for flights departing from Proserpine, Queensland, between March and July 2025.
The initiative marks a significant step in the airline’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote greener air travel in Australia.
SAF, derived from renewable sources such as waste oils, agricultural residues, and non-food crops, is seen as a critical component in the aviation sector’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Under the agreement, Viva will supply Virgin Australia with a blend of Jet A1 fuel and a 30-40 per cent synthetic component made from waste and residue feedstocks.
According to Viva, this blend meets all regulatory and safety requirements and is compatible with existing aircraft and fuelling infrastructure.
Virgin Australia chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer, Christian Bennett, emphasised the importance of SAF in the airline’s sustainability journey.
“SAF represents the critical long-term opportunity in commercial aviation’s pursuit of its 2050 net zero emissions ambition,” he said.
“Partnership, focused policy development, and collaborations such as this with Viva Energy will be essential if we are to adopt successfully SAF’s broader use in Australia over the years and decades ahead.
“Ensuring SAF is affordable and accessible will be key to achieving lowest cost carbon abatement at the same time as maintaining the essential role of aviation in connecting Australian communities.”
Viva Energy’s general manager for aviation, Nick Adams, highlighted the agreement as a step toward building a sustainable SAF supply chain for regional Australia.
“It is clear that SAF is going to play a bigger role for commercial airlines in this country as they move towards a more sustainable future,” he said.
“Through this collaboration – and drawing on the strengths of Viva Energy’s national distribution network and experience supplying high-quality fuels and aviation operations – we will be working with Virgin Australia to establish the supply chains that will be critical to the future of the aviation industry. Viva Energy is also delighted to be helping a key partner like Virgin Australia in its sustainability journey.”
The introduction of SAF at Whitsunday Coast Airport has been welcomed by Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins who described the initiative as a “perfect fit” for the region’s commitment to sustainable tourism.
“It makes absolute sense that Virgin Australia would choose Whitsunday Coast Airport as the launch site for its first ongoing SAF-powered services,” Collins said.
“We are committed to driving initiatives locally that produce world-class bio-products, so I applaud Virgin Australia and Viva Energy for their commitment to SAF and for recognising the Whitsundays as an ideal location to showcase the benefits of sustainable aviation.”
Subscribe to Energy Today for the latest project and industry news.