How Kenya Airways plans to unleash the country’s untapped SAF potential

Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we talk to Grace Vihenda, Senior Manager, Innovation and Sustainability at Kenya Airways, who shares the airline’s efforts to promote sustainable aviation in Africa, a continent with abundant resources for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production but limited infrastructure and investment.

In 2023, Kenya Airways became the first African airline to use SAF for an intercontinental long-haul flight. The flight was conducted as a part of SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge, despite the challenges posed by the lack of a SAF policy framework in the country and the need to purchase the fuel from overseas at a significantly higher cost. The flight has been instrumental in helping chart the course for supportive policy action and the need to set up local SAF production. Vihenda discusses Kenya Airways’ plans to scale up local production, with testing and certification planned for 2024, and eventual commercialisation for broader use.

Vihenda also elaborates on Kenya Airways’ innovative sustainability initiatives, such as partnering with a startup to produce cleaner diesel from waste plastic, implementing 100% recycling of food waste during in-flight meal preparation, and developing upcycled products from aircraft parts. She also emphasises the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among airlines to advance sustainability goals.

As a side note, AviaDev Africa Conference, a crucial platform for improving air travel connections across Africa, is taking place from June 19-21, 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia. Learn more about AviaDev here.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with SkyTeam Alliance’s CEO Patrick Roux who outlines the alliance’s role in enabling airlines’ net zero journey. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [e-mail]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Sustainability - Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways operates first flight from Africa using Eni’s aviation biofuel - ESG News

Kenya Airways wins top prize in two categories in the ‘Sustainable Flight Challenge’ - Airspace Africa

Why SkyTeam believes the world needs “conscious travel” - SimpliFlying