Akasa Air, BPCL operate first 1% SAF flight in India
L-R - Sanjeev Kumar, Subhankar Sen, Daniel and Ankur Goel
The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Akasa Air and BPCL in July 2026 to explore adoption of SAF, along with other opportunities supporting aviation decarbonisation.
Akasa Air successfully operated a commercial flight using conventional aviation turbine fuel blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on September 8, 2026. The flight departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 13:05hrs IST and arrived at Manohar International Airport (GOX), Goa, at 14:30hrs IST.
The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Akasa Air and BPCL in July 2026 to explore adoption of SAF, along with other opportunities supporting aviation decarbonisation. The flight will provide both organisations with insights and practical learnings that can help inform future initiatives.
Ankur Goel, Chief Financial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Sustainability is one of Akasa Air’s core values and shapes how we are building the airline for the long term. Since inception, we have invested in next-generation aircraft, technology and responsible practices that enable more conscious and efficient operations, both on the ground and in the air. This flight with BPCL translates our partnership into tangible action. Scaling SAF in India will require coordinated action across the ecosystem, supported by domestic supply, enabling policy and commercial viability. We are committed to exploring this transition.”
Subhankar Sen, Director (Marketing), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), said, “The transition from conventional fuels to sustainable alternatives is both an environmental imperative and a strategic necessity for India. While feedstock availability and aggregation have historically posed challenges due to fragmented supply chains, sustained efforts across the value chain have helped create the foundation for a viable Sustainable Aviation Fuel ecosystem. BPCL remains firmly committed to advancing sustainable fuels as part of India's broader energy transition journey. As a nation that relies significantly on crude oil imports, enhancing energy security through sustainable and indigenous energy solutions is the way forward.”
The flight comes as India works towards its ambition of achieving 5% SAF blending by 2030 and reflects the aviation industry’s broader focus on reducing carbon emissions. It also contributes to the International Air Transport Association’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The airline’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet is a key enabler of its mission to operate one of the most environmentally progressive and fuel-efficient fleets. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and incorporating advanced-technology winglets, the 737 MAX offers good economics, reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces. The airline has also partnered with OpenAirlines to implement SkyBreathe, fuel management solution that uses advanced analytics to reduce carbon emissions and enhance operational efficiency across the network.
