The Fuel Behind Your Flight

Most passengers don’t think about where jet fuel comes from. They’re focused on getting to the gate, finding their seat and stowing their luggage.

Yet every takeoff depends on a fueling operation every bit as intricate as the aircraft – a global network that spans refinery operators, energy traders, fuel scientists, shipping crews and logistics teams, plus expert crews on the ground.

Few companies have people working across every stage of the journey, from refinery to runway. bp does. And our aviation business, Air bp, is among the industry’s most experienced – our teams have been doing this since the age of the biplane.

Today in its hundredth year, Air bp is one of the world’s top five suppliers, with our teams helping to deliver fuel to aircraft at over 600 locations in more than 40 countries. This translates to around 7 billion gallons a year. Our scale and expertise means that we’re well-equipped to respond to global supply pressures of the kind we’ve seen in recent months. And we play a leading role in the new market for sustainable aviation fuel.

For customers, all of this means greater confidence that the right fuel can be supplied where and when they need it.

Stress test

The value of our network becomes clear when the energy system is under strain.

Earlier this year, supply tightened and jet fuel became less available in some regions owing to the crisis in the Middle East.

“Air bp is built to keep fuel flowing to our customers even when external conditions are difficult,” says Linn Tonsberg, Air bp’s vice president, commercial.

“Our traders can see where demand is moving. Our refineries can dial up production. And our global shipping fleet can redirect cargoes. That combination means we can adapt quickly when markets tighten.”

Which is exactly what happened this spring.

At the start of the crisis, bp teams worked fast to reroute shipments from North America to markets like Australia where supply was tighter. Meanwhile our refinery teams began reconfiguring operations to maximise jet fuel output. The chemical properties of crude vary so they tested different combinations to see which would yield the most jet.

Our traders then worked to secure those supplies. By April, production at our European refineries was around 30% above the 3-year average – in time for the summer peak.

“That’s the value of our network,” says Linn. “Rather than having to take what we can get from the market, bp can create supply and move it to where it’s needed.”

Meeting sky-high demand

Passenger numbers are expected to double versus pre pandemic levels by 2040, according to IATA, as more people around the world board a plane for the first time.

We’re well-placed to help aviation customers meet growing demand. And thanks to our teams, we’ve comfortably outpaced the market in recent years.

Our customers range from well-known passenger airlines and freight companies, to airports, private pilots, aircraft manufacturers and even the emergency services.

Their needs differ, but they all rely on the same thing: expert teams backed by a global energy supply network. Our worldwide reach can support a major airline flying hundreds of routes while keeping an air ambulance fuelled in remote locations.

Sustainable aviation fuel

With passenger numbers set to climb, governments are introducing mandates to curb aviation emissions. Those include targets for higher use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – jet fuel made from materials like seed oils.

SAF is currently the most viable and available option to help lower lifecycle carbon emissions versus the fossil jet fuel it replaces, and it can be used in existing infrastructure and aircraft. SAF can typically enable up to 80% lifecycle carbon emission savings, however SAF does not reduce emissions during combustion.

From 2030, EU rules will require 6% of jet fuel supplied at EU airports to be SAF.

For customers, the challenge is not just wanting or needing a lower-carbon fuel. It is knowing someone can source it, blend it, certify it and deliver it reliably.

Meeting the necessary requirements is not straightforward. First, large volumes of the raw materials need to be sourced – everything from used cooking oil to fast-growing cover crops sown between main harvests. Our refiners then process and blend them with conventional jet fuel in a way that meets strict operational and regulatory standards.

Air bp’s connection to bp’s wider trading, refining and logistics network helps make that possible, enabling us to supply SAF at scale across 60 locations in 22 countries.

We’ve been serving the aviation industry since the days when airframes were built out of wood and canvas. A century on, our task remains the same – to keep aircraft flying safely, reliably and efficiently. It’s a true team effort, powered by our people.

100 years of Air bp

Extracted in full from:  https://www.bp.com/en-IN/press-and-publications/energy-in-focus-magazine/the-fuel-behind-your-flight