As the controversy surrounding the Centre’s E20 petrol rollout intensifies, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal made fresh remarks alleging that the government has similar plans for Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).
“Will you risk flying in an aircraft running on adulterated aviation fuel? Time to have an educated and competent government”, Kejriwal posted on X.
Citing an Economic Times article that discusses India’s initiative to include Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the post, he implied that the government is planning to mix ethanol in ATF.
Separately, on a Facebook post, the former Delhi Chief Minister claimed that experts are flagging ethanol in aviation fuel as a serious compromise to the safety of flights.
However, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu responded to the comments on Thursday, calling the allegation “completely false and irresponsible.”
Naidu highlighted that the government’s highest priority is “passenger safety” and that there is no existing proposal to blend ethanol with ATF. He also explained the difference between Sustainable Aviation Fuel and regular ATF.
The government made amendments to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 in April 2026. This expanded the definition for ATF to include different blends, including synthetic hydrocarbons.
ATF is primarily produced from refining crude oil. Countries such as Japan and the UK mandate blending Sustainable Aviation Fuel with ATF to reduce import dependency.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a blend with jet fuel and is a cleaner, renewable alternative to regular fuel. It is produced from waste oils, fats, sugar, municipal solid waste, wood and agricultural residues. India targets to blend 1 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel for international flights by 2027. In line with the CORSIA mandate, a global UN programme by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the targets are to gradually increase to 2 per cent in 2028 and 5 per cent in 2030.
