Thai Airways announced that it has successfully operated its first flight on Boeing 777 at Phuket Airport for return flight to Bangkok International Airport from Phuket using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The blended SAF was supplied by PTT Oil and Retail business, a Thai oil and gas company, in collaboration with Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd, the marketing and trading arm of Petronas, a Malaysian energy group.

“We are excited that Thai Airways used our Neste MY SAF for its first flight with SAF … Neste is working together with partners such as PTT and Petco Trading to increase the availability and use of SAF, and we look forward to further growing the supply of SAF in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Sami Jauhiainen, Vice President APAC from the Renewable Aviation business at Neste.

A statement from Thai Airways said this SAF flight is a promising starting-point to maintain environmental sustainability. It added that the airline is committed to achieve the 2050 net zero emission goal domestically and internationally following the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Union, as well as to achieve the corporate objectives on sustainable growth through its forthcoming proactive measures.

Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA), body representing airlines in the region including Thai Airways, have set a target to utilise 5% SAF by 2030. “A harmonised global framework that enables the cost-effective supply of SAF is crucial for aviation to attain its net zero emissions goal by 2050,” said Mr. Subhas Menon, director general, AAPA.

Earlier this year, Thai Airways signed an agreement with the Bangchak Corporation for the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise on the use of SAF.