Synthetic fuel could start replacing traditional petroleum and plant-based biofuels by as early as the mid-2030s, helping to decarbonise long-distance air travel, Australian airline Qantas has said.

The Sydney-based group said so-called power-to-liquid technology — which manufactures synthetic hydrocarbon fuel by extracting carbon from the air and hydrogen from water via renewable energy before mixing them together — could prove the “nirvana” of sustainable aviation fuel. This is because it would not compete with food production, as crop-based biofuel does by taking up valuable arable land.

Chief sustainability officer Andrew Parker said hydrogen- and battery- powered planes may be suitable for very short flights but would not have the range to replace traditional aircraft on longer routes, posing a challenge for airlines travelling to and from countries such as Australia.