m2-capital-sdn.-bhd

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are enticing purchasers with their sleek silhouettes, plush cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel kinds of aviation fuel deemed less damaging to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the noticeably less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced ecological pressure on air travel and dedicated to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions could make organization jets more appealing to ecologically mindful buyers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less contaminating private jets might also spare the rich and famous the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan over a recent personal jet trip to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The current waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief business officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 aircraft on screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions internationally, however can discharge, usually, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has defended his occasional usage of private jets to ensure his family's security, and has stated that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say events such as the furore over his travel plan have actually included fresh challenges for an industry already making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are regrettable when you consider that our market has actually provided fuel performance enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry data, billionaires just have a 19% business jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out aircrafts - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, typically mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant effect on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make organization jets look eco-friendly," stated air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could broaden production up to 150 million by 2022.

Corporate charter business and consultants are likewise seeing more interest from customers who wish to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a corporate jet utilization research study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, expense per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe people are ending up being more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)