Vistara recently completed its historic feat by becoming the first Indian airline to operate a commercial, wide-bodied aircraft flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Vistara made history by becoming the first airline in India to fly a commercial domestic wide-body flight with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to a statement, this feat was accomplished on a brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by Vistara, while flying from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi, to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, using a fuel mixture of 17 pc SAF and 83 pc conventional jet fuel.

The statement says that on this landmark flight, Vistara was able to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.53 tonnes. This innovative programme is a cornerstone of Vistara’s ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote the aviation industry’s transition to a sustainable future.

It adds that for the first time ever by an Indian airline, Vistara used sustainable aviation fuel to operate a wide-body aircraft on a long-distance international route last month. On the ferry flight from Charleston, South Carolina, to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, a blend of 30 pc SAF and 70 pc conventional jet fuel was used. This reduced CO2 emissions by about 68.03885 tonnes over the fuel’s lifetime.

“We have always been committed to driving sustainability and innovation in aviation, and are delighted to carry out yet another industry-first initiative of operating a commercial flight on a wide-body using SAF. We are thankful to our partners and the relevant authorities for their support,” says Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara.

The statement says that together with other airlines in the TATA group, Vistara has been making significant efforts to reduce carbon emissions by implementing green technologies. They had an MoU last year to work together on the study, creation, and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum. Through the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Vistara is also working to reduce CO2 emissions for international flights and the industry’s contribution to climate change.

It adds the airline has recently been featured amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines while being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and Southern Asia’ for the second time in a row.