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INTERJET COMPLETES THE FIRST COMMERCIAL BIOFUEL FLIGHT IN AMERICA


Background: On July 1st from this year, entered into force the International Standard ASTM D7566 for the use of biofuel mixed with conventional jet fuel. Thanks to this new standard, commercial airlines are capable to fly with biofuel. Interjet made the first biofuel demonstration flight, on April 1st this year.



And then completes the first commercial biofuel flight in America on July 21 also this year. For more information visit: http://www.astmnewsroom.org/default.aspx?pageid=2524


The main points to note are as follow:
· Interjet in association with ASA (Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares) performs the two first commercial flights with biofuel certified by the ASTM D7566 standard.
· Interjet performs the first commercial flights with biofuel, after two flights in Europe. Certainly, it is the first biofuel flight in America. It is an unprecedented historical event, which places Mexico, the commercial aviation industry and Interjet at the global forefront.
· The first biofuel flight is the N° 2605, leaving from Mexico City International Airport, on July 21 at 13:15, reaching Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas International Airport at 14:40; the second biofuel flight, is in the same day in the return flight N° 2604 leaving Tuxtla at 15:05 and reaching Mexico City at 16:40.



Both flights are sold out, which means that 300 Mexicans (150 on each flight) are part of the commercial aviation history.

· This is the crew that accompanied us in both flights: ASR Rodolfo Fierro De La Portilla; OFI Javier Antonio Barrera Ponce; SAI María Luisa Polanco Aguirre; SM Anna Alicia Miceli Valencia; SOB María Teresa Obledo Ramirez; SOB Luisa Gabriela Ramirez Soto.

· The Airbus A320-200 with registration number XA-MXM, equipped with engines CFM56-5B4, are the most efficient in today’s aviation technology.


· The biofuel is produced from vegetable oil of Jatropha. Jatropha is cultivated by Mexican producers in Chiapas, Mexico. ASA in association with Chiapas Government and all the independent producers, made the task of collecting Jatropha’s weed, oil extraction, transportation to the facilities of UPO Honeywell in USA to turn it on to “Biokeroseno Parafínico Sintético” which is comonly known as Biofuel and finally return it to Mexico to storage and preservation.


ASA decided to use a mixture of 27% of locally sourced Jatropha biofuel and 73% of conventional jet fuel.


· The biofuel total charged was 12,716 Lt, the biofuel consumption in the flight 2605 MEX-TGZ was of 4,039 Lt and the consumption of the 2604 TGZ-MEX was of 4,576 Lt.
· Interjet plans to realize other commercial biofuel flights, in the next weeks.

· It is important to note that the aviation industry is committed to using biofuels called “second and third generation”, are those that do not compete with the production of food or feed. The Jatropha is one of those crops that generate sources of employment and many environmental benefits: land is planted in poor soils that are unsuitable for other crops, reforesting areas preyed upon, and their fruit is toxic for consumption and essentially requires temporary irrigation.

· Being a production process that is just beginning, the actual cost of biofuel production is higher tan the conventional fuel, but oil prices tend to rise.



· Mexico has ideal natural conditions to become one of the most important biofuel producers. Counting with public policy incentive to biofuel producers and consumers it will be viable generalize the production and once they reach large scale of production the unit costs will compete with the conventional fuel. Additionally, biofuel can reduce up tu 80% of CO2.


Interjet in just 5 years is a success story in comercial aviation in Mexico. It is distinguished bye its high quality service at an affordable price. It operates a fleet of 31 A320 aircraft, serving 40 routes and 27 destinations, including 2 international destinations. According to official data, Interjet occupies de second place in market share in Mexico’s aviaton industry, and according to recent data its one of the most profitable and efficient airlines in Latin America.