Britain is falling behind the US and Europe in developing green aviation fuels because of government inaction, the chief executive of British Airways’ parent company said.
Luis Gallego, chief executive of International Airlines Group (IAG), said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration is failing to deliver on “jet zero”, one of 10 commitments made in November 2020 to bring about a green industrial revolution.
He said time is running out for keeping the promise.
Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Gallego said: “If there isn’t enough of these alternative fuels to go around, which at the moment there isn’t, UK aviation’s net zero ambition is put at risk,” he said.
The government wants the aviation sector to achieve net zero by 2050.
But the UK is falling behind others and risks losing out if it does not catch up, said Mr Gallego.
“Britain is being leapfrogged by the US and Europe in the race to scale-up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, and unless we act fast we’ll lose out on the huge prize this new sector can deliver for UK plc,” he said.
“The government says it is chasing economic growth, that it needs to decarbonise to hit net zero and that the UK needs to keep better control of its energy supplies in the future.
“That’s exactly what creating a domestic SAF industry delivers. The government needs to get out of the changing room and join the race,” said Mr Gallego.
A government spokesman said: “Our sustainable aviation fuel programme is one of the most comprehensive in the world, and our £165m Advanced Fuel Fund is kick-starting its production in the UK by supporting investment.”
Projects include the development of lightweight batteries for small aircraft by west of England electric aircraft maker Vertical Aerospace, and the building of a zero-emission liquid hydrogen combustion jet engine led by Rolls-Royce.
Late last year, Rolls-Royce and easyJet completed the world’s first successful trial of the jet engine in the UK.
The ground test was conducted on the engine using green hydrogen produced by wind and tidal power generated in the Orkney Islands in Scotland.
It took place at Ministry of Defence site Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, south-west England, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A aircraft engine, which is widely used.
The companies, which are aiming to prove hydrogen can safely and efficiently power civil plane engines, are planning to conduct a second set of trials.
Flight tests remain a longer-term ambition.
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog:
Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Pet Peeve: Racism
Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne
What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms
Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s
Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"
Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model
Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
