Greener Only Scales When It's Less Expensive

Episode SummaryRecorded at Natilus HQ in downtown San Diego, Neal sits down with Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and co-founder of Natilus, and Dr. Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability for Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, for a roundtable on the real economics of decarbonizing flight. They get into why ordering a new plane today means a 12-year wait, why sustainable aviation fuel still costs nearly double Jet A, and how Natilus’s blended wing body cuts cost and emissions at the same time - the rare case where the greener choice is also the less expensive one. Along the way: fuel-price shocks emptying transatlantic cabins, aviation’s pull back toward defense, and a FedEx flight that hops the San Diego–Tijuana border in ten minutes. Plus the best plant-based tacos in Mexico City.Key Topics* The 12-year backlog to order a new aircraft* Why global aircraft production must nearly double* Sustainable aviation fuel at ~2x the cost of Jet A* Blended wing body: 30% less drag, ~50% lower cost* When sustainability and economics finally align* Fuel volatility emptying transatlantic flights* Aviation’s pull toward defense and dual-use* Inside the Natilus × Kuehne+Nagel feasibility studyLinks & Resources* Natilus* Kona (Natilus regional freighter) * Kuehne+Nagel* ZeroAvia (hydrogen-electric partner)Connect on LinkedIn* Neal Bloom* Aleksey Matyushev* Fabiano Piccinno This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit risingtidepartners.substack.com/subscribe