Malaysia Airlines To Consider Biofuel When Commercially Available

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | June 08, 2008 by D-8 Secretariat

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will consider the possibility of using biofuel when the product is commercially available, managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said on Friday last week.

“When the biofuel is a commercially viable product, we would certainly like to use it,” Idris told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding on “MAS Goes Green” between the national carrier and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, as reported by Malaysian media source.

Malaysia, as the worlds top palm oil producer, is encouraging the use of biofuel that comprises 95 percent diesel and five percent processed palm oil.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said last February that the use of biofuel on commercial flights could materialise within the next five to six years with the race towards a cleaner and greener aviation industry shifting into high gear.

Asked about the mechanism being used by MAS to recover from high fuel prices, Idris said: “There are a number of practices in place at present for this purpose. We began this exercise two years ago and will keep at it as we want to stay profitable going forward.”

On whether the airline will increase its fares, he said this was already being done on a route-by-route basis.

“We will also ensure we stay competitive in terms of fares,” he added.

On the airline’s environmental initiative, Idris said a programme has been launched, which involved customers of MAS and subsidiaries Firefly and MASwings making voluntary financial contributions towards reducing the effects of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Proceeds from the contributions of customers as well as the three airlines will be regularly channeled to a trust fund managed by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), acting on behalf of the ministry.

FRIM will then channel the funds to selected United Nations sanctioned forest conservation projects in Malaysia that are designed to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

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