Akasa Air Operates First Commercial Flight Using 1% SAF

Akasa Air operated its first commercial flight with conventional aviation turbine fuel blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on 8 September 2026. The SAF blend was supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a public sector undertaking in India. The flight operated between Mumbai and Goa on the same day.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an aviation fuel produced from non-fossil feedstocks such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues, municipal waste, and other renewable raw materials. SAF can be blended with conventional aviation turbine fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport fuel systems, subject to certification and blending limits.

Commercial Aviation Fuel Blending

Aviation turbine fuel is the standard fuel used in jet aircraft, and SAF blending is one method used to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions in aviation. The 1% blend used in this flight was a commercial demonstration under operational conditions, which is a common method for testing fuel handling, refuelling, and flight performance.

India’s SAF Framework

BPCL and Akasa Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 14 July 2026 to create a framework for SAF supply and offtake across India. The arrangement covers supply-chain planning, fuel availability, and commercial deployment for future SAF use in Indian aviation.

Important Facts for Exams

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Manohar International Airport is located in Goa.
• BPCL is one of India’s major public sector oil marketing companies and operates in refining, fuel retail, and aviation fuel supply.
• SAF is used globally as a drop-in fuel because it can be blended with conventional jet fuel in existing aircraft.
• India has set a national target of 5% SAF blending for commercial aviation by 2030.

Operational and Policy Context

Akasa Air Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel stated that scaling SAF in India requires domestic supply chains, ecosystem support, and commercial viability. BPCL Director (Marketing) Subhankar Sen stated that feedstock aggregation has faced fragmented supply chain challenges in India.

Flight Details

The flight departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 13:05 IST on 8 September 2026 and arrived at Manohar International Airport at 14:30 IST. The operation was announced publicly on 9 September 2026 as a practical reference for future sustainable aviation initiatives.