Santo Domingo.- During the days of the “Alta Conference on Fuel and Sustainability”, specialists from the airline sector highlighted the urgency of establishing objective government guidelines to make the energy transition viable and guarantee the sustainability of an essential service in the region.
The event organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association Alta brought together representatives of airlines, suppliers, manufacturers and authorities, who discussed the main challenges and opportunities related to the decarbonization of the sector.
Marco Larson, Head of Sustainability at Sky, warned that the lack of defined regulation in Latin America makes it difficult to plan long-term sustainable initiatives. “Although Sky operates a very modern and efficient fleet in the region, avoiding more than 1 million tonnes of Co2, the absence of clear rules creates uncertainties for investments in solutions that reduce carbon emissions.”
Boeing President of Latin America and the Caribbean, Landon Loomis, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting customers and governments around the world in their ambitions for the future of aviation.
“The expansion of the use of technologies that support our customers, such as Saf (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), electric propulsion and hydrogen, depends on public policies that promote production and reduce costs. Boeing has already conducted more than 800 test flights with Saf and is leading research in electric propulsion and hydrogen, positioning itself to validate new solutions,” Loomis said.
The circular economy was also pointed out as one of the strategies for reducing emissions. Johanna Cabrera, Sustainability Manager of Latam, highlighted initiatives such as the elimination of single-use plastics, the substitution of ecological materials and the collaboration with suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices.
“Latam reduced 129 tons of food waste on board with a better forecast of passenger behavior and requires recycling and traceability of waste from its partners, reinforcing its leadership in sustainability in the airline sector,” Cabrera stressed.
Biofuels: challenges and opportunities
Pedro De La Fuente, IATA’s Sustainability, Policy and Standards Manager, highlighted the importance of collaboration and the implementation of new technologies to meet the growing demand for SAF.
Judit De León, Coordinator of the Development Directorate of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation, Idac, highlighted Latin America’s potential for the production of biofuels from local waste, but warned that the certification process can take up to five years, delaying the expansion of the sector.
Manuel Garcia-Perez, professor and chair of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Washington State University (WSU), emphasized the need to reduce capital costs for the construction and operation of biofuel plants, noting that the choice of feedstocks, such as used cooking oil or ethanol, directly impacts the final cost. “It is essential to create government incentive packages to make production viable and expand the supply of Saf in the region,” he emphasized.
According to Debnil Chowdhury, vice president of Western Hemisphere Fuels and Refining Research at S&P Global, demand for aviation fuel in Latin America and the Caribbean will grow in the coming years, but the region will continue to rely on imports from the United States, which account for about 50% of total consumption.
The growth of the aviation fuel market is seen as an opportunity, but refining capacity in Latin America remains insufficient to meet demand.”
Future of sustainable supply chain
Experts reinforced the importance of responsible supply chain management to drive sustainability in aviation. Liliana Tovar, Terpel’s Vice President of Aviation and Seafarers, championed regulatory harmonization in Latin America to facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices.
“It is necessary to train suppliers on the use of renewable energies and monitor the origin of inputs, in addition to regulatory harmonization in the region to facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices, highlighting the region’s potential in biomass generation,” Tovar added.
Mariano Gutiérrez, Aviation Manager of Repsol Peru, highlighted the importance of innovation in Latin America, citing programs to collect used oil for the manufacture of biofuels. “We must consider not only regulatory issues, but also technological advances, ensuring traceability throughout the supply chain.”
Fuel-efficient policies: an essential step for competitiveness
The relaxation of fuel quality policies was also a topic of debate. The specialists highlighted the need to adopt more efficient regulations that expand the availability of aviation fuels and reduce operating costs, guaranteeing the safety and competitiveness of the sector in the region.
One of the points addressed was the possibility of allowing the use of both Jet A and Jet A-1. Although both are aviation fuels derived from kerosene, there are differences in their specifications and prices. Alexandra Calvo, Iata’s Commercial Fuel Manager, defended the need to advance regulations that allow the use of both fuel options in the region.
“Allowing the use of Jet A and Jet A-1 expands supply possibilities and reduces vulnerabilities in situations of shortage, making operations more efficient,” he said.
Luis Osegueda, Chevron’s Aviation Sales Manager for the West Coast of the United States and Latin America, warned that dependence on a single type of fuel increases the susceptibility of companies to supply crises, which can directly affect the continuity of air operations.
For his part, Stephano Gachet Carrillo, Latam’s Director of Fuel, highlighted the challenges faced by companies due to regulatory rigidity in some markets, which increases costs and reduces competitiveness.
The discussions indicated that the transition to greener aviation depends on clear regulatory frameworks, investments in innovation and collaboration between all links in the production chain. The integration of regional and international efforts will be critical to ensuring a more sustainable future for aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
