Biofuels for aviation need Fed support: IATA

BEIJING—The head of the global airline industry group says airlines need government support to lower the cost of biofuels and make them commercially viable.

The chief executive of the International Air Transport Association, Tony Tyler, said airlines have shown planes can fly on fuels made from plants. He said carriers need government support to produce them in bigger volume and lower the cost.

Tyler was in Beijing for IATA’s annual general meeting next week.

Tyler said airlines have made about 1,500 commercial flights using biofuels, which could help to reduce pollution and carbon emissions.