Plane Makes Its Way Across Asia With Cooking Oil-Based Fuel — Signaling A New Phase In Sustainable Aviation

Written by Valdemar Medeiros

Published on 07/05/2025 at 11:45

Foto: Reprodução/NHK World

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Historic Flight of Japan Airlines Demonstrates That the Future of Aviation Can Be Powered by Cleaner and More Accessible Fuels, with a Focus on Decarbonization. Check Out the Details of the Flight Made with Used Cooking Oil-Based Fuel

A flight between Japan and China may have marked the beginning of a new era in sustainable aviation. Japan Airlines (JAL) completed, on May 1, 2025, a commercial trip powered by alternative fuel produced from used cooking oil. The Boeing 787 took off from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, headed for Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, completing the journey in 2 hours and 48 minutes, using exclusively the so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

This new step by the airline is not an isolated case. It symbolizes progress in the Japanese national plan aimed at increasing 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 like hybrid and electric cars, aviation is starting to take off with fuels like 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 for cleaner aviation.

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Cooking Oil-Based SAF: Why Is This 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, JAL’s flight used SAF produced and certified within Japanese territory, with 100% domestic raw material: recycled cooking oil.

The operation of this flight was only possible thanks to a multi-sector alliance. Japan Airlines launched, in 2023, theFry to Fly project, gathering companies, local governments, and NGOs to collect used cooking oil throughout the country. The program started with just 29 participants and now involves over 200 organizations.

Airlines Accelerate Use of Alternative Fuels

JAL’s project is not the only highlight. In 2021, British Airways also conducted a flight between London and Glasgow using a mix of conventional fuel and cooking oil-derived SAF. The company reported a 62% reduction in carbon emissions compared to a similar operation conducted a decade earlier.

This global movement is supported by major international aviation groups. The trend is that the use of SAF will become mandatory in some European countries starting in 2030. In Japan’s case, 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 realization of this flight represents not just a technical achievement, 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 significant impact when adopted on a large scale.

The new Japanese SAF shows that even cooking oil — a common waste in households 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 establish the use of SAF as the standard in the country’s air transport.

Sustainable aviation has just gained another boost with Japan Airlines’ pioneering flight powered by cooking oil-derived fuel. This action positions Japan as a global reference in the search for innovative and sustainable solutions for the aviation sector. The success of the operation demonstrates that the use of renewable fuels is not only possible but also commercially viable at scale.

With bold goals and the support of governments and the private sector, the expectation is that the new Japanese SAF will increase its presence in airports around the world — and that flying cleanly and consciously will soon become the new standard for global aviation.

Plane Makes Its Way Across Asia With Cooking Oil-Based Fuel — Signaling A New Phase In Sustainable Aviation

Historic Flight of Japan Airlines Demonstrates That the Future of Aviation Can Be Powered by Cleaner and More Accessible Fuels, with a Focus on Decarbonization. Check Out the Details of the Flight Made with Used Cooking Oil-Based Fuel

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Cooking Oil-Based SAF: Why Is This Important?

Airlines Accelerate Use of Alternative Fuels

Sustainability and Innovation: The Sky Is the Limit

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Plane Makes Its Way Across Asia With Cooking Oil-Based Fuel — Signaling A New Phase In Sustainable Aviation

Historic Flight of Japan Airlines Demonstrates That the Future of Aviation Can Be Powered by Cleaner and More Accessible Fuels, with a Focus on Decarbonization. Check Out the Details of the Flight Made with Used Cooking Oil-Based Fuel

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