BGS embarks on an eco-mission, plans to offer sustainable aviation fuel

BGS, an international provider of ground handling, aircraft fuelling, logistics services and a part of the Avia Solutions Group, a leading global aerospace services group, continues moving towards sustainability and search for partners to offer airlines sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“Global airline industry has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While aviation industry professionals are looking into electric and hydrogen aircraft possibilities, sustainable aviation fuel remains one of the key opportunities for the aviation sector to contribute to environmental sustainability,” explained Gytis Gumuliauskas, BGS CEO. “SAF is essentially similar to biofuels, where the fuel meets all aviation fuel standards and specifications, but part of it is made from renewable sources such as used cooking oil, municipal and food waste or woody biomass. It is a safe fuel, which has the potential to significantly reduce emissions when compared with conventional aviation fuel.”

According to BGS CEO: “This kind of fuel is a novelty and production of it is limited to this day. According to The International Air Transport Association (IATA), 65% of emission reductions are planned to come from SAF and the industry would need around 450bn litres annually to fulfil this goal, yet only 100m litres is currently available. As the availability of SAF is low and the price is high, compared to traditional fuels, this product has not yet been widely adopted by the industry. SAF is currently available in Scandinavia, North America, UK, Japan and some other countries, but in many countries, it has never been loaded onto aircraft.”

Although the logistics chain to deliver fuel to airports where BGS operates is quite complex, the company will be working with partners to find the most optimal solutions. As a seasoned ground handling professional, BGS operates its own logistics park, which simplifies the supply of SAF in particular.