In the midst of its deep financial woes, state-owned airline SAA has managed to make progress, at minimal cost, on its biojet fuels project — which could save it some money in the long run.SAA is almost a year late in publishing its annual financial statements. It needs a R5bn government guarantee to maintain its status as a going concern but national treasury is refusing to grant a guarantee until it appoints a new board and executive.Oil prices, now at US$47/barrel, are about half their level when SAA and its international partners embarked on their biojet fuels project three years ago, which means biofuels are now more expensive than conventional fuel. But, in the longer term, the costs are expected to come down.SAA and its low-cost partner Mango Airlines flew Africa’s first biojet-fuel-powered commercial flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Friday July 15. Blended biojet fuel was used in Boeing 737-800s.SAA environmental specialist Ian Cruickshank says the first small batch...
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