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Japan Airlines’ historic flight demonstrates that the future of aviation can be powered by cleaner, more affordable fuels, with a focus on decarbonization. Check out the details of the flight made with fuel based on vetch oil
A flight between Japan and China may have marked the beginning of a new era in sustainable aviation. On May 1, 2025, Japan Airlines (JAL) completed a commercial flight powered by alternative fuel made from used cooking oil. The Boeing 787 took off from Kansai International Airport in Osaka to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, flying in 2 hours and 48 minutes, using only Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
This new step by the airline is not an isolated case. It symbolizes a step forward in Japan's national project aimed at expanding the use of renewable energy in the aviation sector. According to the Airports Council International, the SAF used on this flight was supplied by Saffaire Sky Energy LLC and mass-produced at the Cosmo Oil refinery, also located in Osaka.
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While the automotive sector has been exploring alternatives such as hybrid and electric cars, aviation is starting to take off with fuels such as SAF — a compound that can be generated from organic waste such as vegetable fat. This flight operated by Japan Airlines reinforces that Japan is at the forefront of efforts towards cleaner aviation.
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The Sakai refinery, which produced the fuel, was completed in 2023 and symbolizes a direct investment in the environmental goals proposed by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The entity stipulates the reduction of CO² emissions from international aviation by 15% (compared to 2019), with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Cooking Oil-Based SAF: Why Is It Important?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is considered one of the most promising alternatives to replace traditional fossil fuels in commercial aviation. Unlike other experimental projects, the JAL flight used SAF produced and certified in Japan, with 100% domestic raw material: recycled cooking oil.
The operation of this flight was only possible thanks to a multi-sector alliance. In 2023, Japan Airlines launched the Fry to Fly project (“Fry to Fly”, in free translation), bringing together companies, local governments and NGOs to collect used cooking oil across the country. The program began with just 29 participants and now involves more than 200 organizations.
Airlines accelerate use of alternative fuels
JAL’s project is not the only one of note. In 2021, British Airways also operated a flight between London and Glasgow using a blend of conventional fuel and SAF derived from cooking oil. The airline reported a 62% reduction in carbon emissions compared to a similar operation carried out a decade earlier.
This global movement has the support of major international aviation groups. The trend is that the use of SAF will become mandatory in some European countries from 2030. In the case of Japan, the JAL Group aims to replace 1% of the fuel used in its operations with SAF by 2025, and reach 10% by 2030.
Sustainability and innovation: the sky is the limit
The completion of this flight represents not only a technical feat, but also a symbol of how sustainable aviation can become a reality through social mobilization and technology. The fuel was produced with inputs collected directly from society, reinforcing the idea that simple and effective solutions can have a great impact when adopted on a large scale.
O new Japanese SAF shows that even cooking oil — a common waste in homes and restaurants — can have strategic value in the energy transition. According to Japan Airlines, the idea now is to further expand the collection network, improve production methods and consolidate the use of SAF as a standard in the country's air transport.
Sustainable aviation has just received a further boost with Japan Airlines’ pioneering flight powered by fuel derived from cooking oil. The move positions Japan as a global leader in the search for innovative and sustainable solutions for the aviation sector. The success of the operation shows that the use of renewable fuels is not only possible, but also viable on a commercial scale.
With bold goals and the support of governments and the private sector, the expectation is that the new Japanese SAF expand its presence at airports around the world — and that flying cleanly and consciously will soon become the new standard in global aviation.
