The revolutionary move would, helping to significantly reduce carbon emissions and reduce the impact on climate change, with gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuels seen as a technology that will be environmentally friendly

A Letter of Intent, the “Working Together Agreement” was signed at the Dubai Air Show today to investigate fuel-related benefits of using Synthetic Jet Fuels to power aviation turbine engines. Qatar Airways has been joined by Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Woqod (Qatar Fuel Company) for the intensive study to be carried out over the next few years.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker stated: “There is a huge movement lobbying for the reduction in carbon emissions to make for a cleaner and safer environment. The aviation industry has been at the centre of this highly topical debate. We as industry leaders gathered here at this press conference are committed to this cause and today’s move highlights how serious we take this important issue.

“Together with our partners, we will all work in close collaboration to study the use of synthetic jet fuels, or GTL kerosene in our drive towards a cleaner and safer world. And we at Qatar Airways look onward to becoming the first airline in the world to power commercial aircraft with natural gas.”

Qatar Airways currently operates one of the world’s youngest and fuel-efficient fleet of 58 all-Airbus aircraft, and was highly committed to the development of environmentally-friendly synthetic fuel for commercial aviation.

The consortium’s research will focus on the benefits of using GTL kerosene, with particular emphasis on improved air quality, fuel economy and reduced carbon emissions in an around airports and at cruising altitude.

Training and research will be carried out at facilities within the Qatar Science and Technology Park, a world-class education and research centre run under the auspices of Qatar Foundation. Qatar Petroleum and Shell are currently building a multi-billion dollar, world class, fully integrated gas-to-liquids complex, which is set to transform the State of Qatar into the GTL capital of the world.

GTL kerosene will be an important component of the Pearl GTL project, intended to be marketed as a natural gas derived synthetic component for jet fuel.

Aircraft fuel currently accounts for as much as 40 per cent of an airline’s operating costs. With spiraling jet fuel prices, GTL kerosene is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions, reduce fuel burn and improve aircraft operational efficiency.

Qatar Airways runs a department which specifically looks at ways to reduce fuel burn by eliminating unnecessary weight on aircraft, such as potable water, lighter inflight amenities and meal equipment.

Flight trials using gas-to-liquids fuel would be carried out following the intensive study and a worldwide industry approval of individual equipment manufacturers and regulators.