TOWARDS GREENER SKIES: EVALUATING SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL ALTERNATIVES

The aviation sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, with increasing demands for air travel intensifying environmental concerns. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) have emerged as a promising alternative to mitigate the carbon footprint of air travel while supporting the industry’s sustainability goals. However, the adoption of SAFs is influenced by multiple factors, including environmental impact, economic feasibility, technical feasibility, and social acceptability. A systematic evaluation of these factors is essential to identify the most suitable SAF options for widespread implementation. This study aims to assess and prioritize sustainable aviation fuel alternatives using a structured multi-criteria decision-making framework. The evaluation focuses on identifying the SAFs that provide the most significant environmental benefits while ensuring economic and technical viability and gaining social acceptance. The study employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize four primary criteria - environmental impact, economic feasibility, technical feasibility, and social acceptability - and evaluate SAF alternatives. Data were collected from a diverse group of aviation experts, including pilots, air traffic controllers (ATCOs), engineers, managers, and researchers. Pairwise comparison matrices were constructed to capture expert opinions, and responses were aggregated based on job categories and experience levels for a comprehensive analysis. The results indicate that environmental impact is the most critical criterion, with carbon emissions being a key determinant. Among the evaluated SAF alternatives, Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) achieved the highest ranking due to its superior compatibility with existing aviation infrastructure and its significant environmental benefits. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) followed closely, praised for its operational feasibility within current airport systems. In contrast, Gas to Liquids (GTL) ranked lower, primarily due to concerns regarding its economic viability and the energy intensity of its production process. The study highlights the need to prioritize SAF alternatives that balance environmental performance with technical and economic feasibility. SPK and HVO stand out as the most viable options for reducing aviation-related carbon emissions and advancing sustainability goals. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of investment in SAF infrastructure and supportive regulatory frameworks to drive adoption. Promoting SAFs will play a key role in reducing the aviation sector’s environmental impact and supporting sustainable tourism practices globally.