Cape Town to Antarctica Flight Uses 50% Cooking Oil Fuel

White Desert will launch a flight route from Cape Town to Antarctica using fuel made from waste cooking oil. The journey represents a significant shift in luxury tourism logistics for the region. Passengers will pay between $16,500 and $120,000 for the trip. This price range reflects the premium nature of the sustainable aviation fuel used.

Sasol will supply the jet fuel for this initial operation. The fuel is produced at the Natref refinery in Sasolburg. This facility has a daily processing capacity of 108,500 barrels. It remains the only inland crude-oil refinery in South Africa.

Sasol Secures International SAF Certification

Sasol received international sustainability certification for its renewable fuel output. The company plans its first commercial flight using this fuel in November. The aircraft will be an Airbus A340-600. White Desert previously sourced sustainable aviation fuel from Europe starting in 2021.

The new fuel blends renewable materials with conventional feedstock. Used cooking and vegetable oils are primary inputs. This blend allows use in existing aircraft engines without modification. No new airport fuelling systems are required for operation.

Global Adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The International Civil Aviation Organization reports over 360,000 commercial flights used sustainable aviation fuel. These flights occurred at 46 airports. Most of these locations are in the United States and Europe. Airlines like United, KLM, and Delta are current users of this technology.

Regulations allow a maximum blend of 50% sustainable aviation fuel. This limit applies to commercial jet fuel mixtures. The fuel is chemically similar to standard jet kerosene. It functions in current infrastructure without retrofitting costs.

EU Mandates Drive Future Fuel Standards

The European Union enforces the strictest blending mandates globally. These rules require a minimum of 2% sustainable fuel in 2025. The mandate scales to 70% by 2050. Thirty-five percent of this target must come from synthetic e-fuels.

E-fuels are produced by extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process avoids adding new carbon to the cycle. The airline industry aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Sustainable aviation fuel is a core component of this strategy.