Stakeholders in aviation, including governments, airlines and aircraft manufacturers, must work closer together to develop biofuels, IATA's boss has said.
Tony Tyler, the organisation's CEO, said biofuels represent the future of aviation.
“With the potential to cut aviation’s carbon footprint by up to 80% over the lifecycle of the fuel, sustainable biofuels have the potential to be a game changer,” he said.
“But they are still expensive and supply is limited. In other words, we need to commercialise them.”
The IATA chief said the industry must “work together and speak with a common voice”.
“That is the way to convince governments to provide the right policies to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel industry,” he said.
Tyler said governments should provide incentives for airlines to use biofuels, and foster research into the successful commercialisation of them.
“At this time of global uncertainty, it makes sense for governments to invest in sustainable biofuels that will increase energy self-sufficiency and create jobs in the green economy,” he added.