21 December 2011
Thai Airways operates Asia's first commercial passenger biofuel flight

Thai Airways today carried out Asia’s first passenger flight to be powered using sustainable jet fuel. A special flight of a Boeing 777 from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport carried VIPs, representatives from companies involved in the project such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce, and around 100 students and teaching staff. The aircraft was powered in both engines by a 50/50 blend of used cooking oil sourced from the United States and conventional jet kerosene. Tomorrow, a scheduled passenger flight between Bangkok and Chiang Mai will use the same biofuel blend.

“THAI believes sustainable jet fuel will play an important role in the transition to a sustainable future for aviation and is willing do its part,” commented the airline’s President, Piyasvasti Amranand. “We intend to make sustainable jet fuel an integral part of our strategy. We support the business model of demand aggregation. Structural demand for sustainable jet fuel will translate into stakeholder engagement and lower prices in the near future.”

Thai Airways President Piyasvasti Amranand said that sustainability was in line with the renewable energy vision of the King of Thailand and the use of biofuels would support the airline’s Travel Green initiative that was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The inaugural flight will include representatives that have supported the jet biofuel project, including PTT, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI), the Department of Civil Aviation, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

Thai Airways International's Asia's first passenger biofuels flight confirms the airline's commitment toward green travelling and the Thai authorities' effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand said that the experimental flight echoes the airline’s CSR policy. Under “travel green” concept, this flight is aimed at creating awareness among all parties on biofuels, particularly regional airlines which needs to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
“THAI wants to push forward jet biofuels development to ensure sustainable use in Thailand and the region. This needs cooperation from all parties, like oil companies, research institutes, educational institutes, and related public and private organisations,” he said.

PTT executive Saran Rangkasiri said the company was in charge of supplying 8 tonnes of biofuels for the flights, worth about BT$2.5 million.
To Airports of Thailand, the flights are in line with the Green Airport policy. Aside from the green flight, AOT is turning it’s buildings into Green Building and using clean and renewable energy for all vehicles operating in the airport.