Malaysia Airlines operated the first passenger flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

The flights – MH603 and MH606 – come in conjunction with World Environment Day, which falls on June 5 itself, marking a significant step towards (hopefully) greener horizons in the aviation industry.

Both Malaysia Airlines flights will be flown on Boeing 737-800 aircrafts, using a blend of fuel that’s 38 percent SAF and conventional fossil jet fuel. Compared to aviation fuel that’s made up completely of fossil fuels, this more sustainable mixture is derived from 100 percent renewable waste and residue raw materials such as cooking oil.

Though cooking oil and other palm-based materials are very suitable for biofuel, SAF can also be made using residue raw materials from flora and fauna, municipal waste, waste gases, and agricultural residue to name a few. 

According to a Malaysia Airlines statement, the SAF being used can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent. 

According to sea.mashable.com