Virgin Australia has partnered with Australian energy company Viva Australia to explore sourcing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for selected flights out of Proserpine Airport (PPP) in Queensland between March to July 2025.
Under the agreement, Viva Energy will provide Virgin Australia with SAF consisting of Jet A1 and a 30-40% synthetic blend component made from waste and residue feedstocks.
Jet A1 is a kerosene type of fuel consisting of hydrocarbons and tetraethyl lead. It has a high octane number, designed for high-compression, high-performance engines, a popular choice for propeller aircraft.
According to Virgin Australia, the blend is fully compatible with existing aircraft and fuelling infrastructure, and all regulatory and safety requirements.
The collaboration will allow Viva Energy to continue to expand its ability to supply SAF-blended jet fuel across Australia using its infrastructure assets, while exploring regional SAF delivery, storage and handling, and direct into-wing dispensing.
According to the Queensland State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, the state is internationally recognized as one of the best locations to establish an Australasian SAF supply chain. This is mainly due to the state already producing significant SAF feedstock such as, tallow, biomass and agricultural residues and has the potential to grow alternative feedstocks such as pongamia and carinata.
“SAF represents the critical long-term opportunity in commercial aviation’s pursuit of its 2050 net zero emissions ambition,” Virgin Australia Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Christian Bennett said in a statement.
“Partnership, focused policy development, and collaborations such as this with Viva Energy will be essential if we are to successfully adopt SAF’s broader use in Australia over the years and decades ahead,” Bennett added.
Bennett also emphasized the importance of making SAF affordable and accessible, acknowledging it will be the key to achieving lowest cost carbon abatement, and “maintaining the essential role of aviation in connecting Australian communities.”