GitLab

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market show in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing purchasers with their smooth shapes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to display novel types of air travel fuel considered less damaging to the climate, from used cooking oil to the definitely less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to suppress emissions could make service jets more appealing to environmentally conscious purchasers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less contaminating private jets could likewise spare the rich and well-known the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.

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

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

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 airplane on screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel blends expected to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions worldwide, however can give off, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his periodic use of private jets to ensure his family's safety, and has stated that on the unusual celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state incidents such as the furore over his itinerary have actually added fresh challenges for an industry already striving to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving using personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has provided fuel performance improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the industry make inroads with and wealthy purchasers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% service jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to airplanes - is unlikely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some experts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, typically combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial influence on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make service jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for sustainable fuels now far exceeds supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.

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

Corporate charter business and consultants are also seeing more interest from consumers who wish to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a role in a corporate jet utilization research study his business just recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I believe that cost, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are ending up being more conscious of the sustainability of operations and how it affects the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)