SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF)
#DECARBONIZATION #INNOVATION #SUSTAINABILITY
10% SAF on board our aircraft by 2030
The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is
one of the most impactful measures for reducing
the Air France-KLM Group’s CO2 emissions.
The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the most impactful measures for reducing the Air France-KLM Group’s CO2 emissions.
There are two types of these new fuels:
- Second-generation biofuels manufactured from biomass – notably used oil and agricultural waste – which are available as of now.
- Synthetic fuels – or Power-to-Liquid, products manufactured from CO2 captured in the atmosphere and hydrogen which is present in water – also available as of now.
Notably, the “ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation” has come into effect on January 1, 2024.
This regulation mandates targets for SAF incorporation in global fuel consumption, aiming for up to 70% by 2050 for all flights within and departing from Europe.
Targeted incorporation percentage of SAF in Air France-KLM fuel mix
As a leader in the use of SAF and as signatory of Clean Skies for Tomorrow, the Air France-KLM Group has reaffirmed its commitment to making the aviation sector more sustainable and has committed to incorporating a minimum of 10% SAF by 2030.
Guaranteeing strict sustainability criteria
Air France-KLM selects only fuels whose sustainability is proven and certified by independent, reliable bodies like the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB, https://rsb.org/) or the ISCC+. It requires a more than 75% reduction in CO2 emissions, a minimal impact on biodiversity, no competition with food production or access to food resources, no use of palm oil which is a major factor in deforestation and a positive impact on local development.
Air France and KLM have also been members of the RSB since 2008. This body takes into account 12 criteria for SAF, ranging from food security to rural development, the quality of air, soil and water resources, and waste management.
Committing to long-term SAF procurement
This year’s announcements build on Air France-KLM’s long-term SAF deals with Neste and DG Fuels, covering a total of 1.6 million tons from 2023 to 2036. We are fully committed to promoting sustainable aviation by increasing the demand for and usage of SAF, and driving its growth and development worldwide. We achieve this by forging multi-year supply agreements and actively supporting suppliers in their journey towards achieving the highest sustainability standards
In 2023, the Group incorporated 87,000 metric tons of SAF, almost doubling the amount of SAF used in 2022. Air France-KLM aims to remain one of the world’s largest users of SAF.
On October 25, 2022, signed a new series of long-term supply agreements and MoU’s (Memorandum of Understanding) to cover the SAF (or Bio fuels) requirements for its airlines over the coming years.
On December 5, 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Total Energies for the supply of more than one million cubic meters (800,000 metric tons) of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to Air France-KLM companies over a 10-year period, starting in 2023.
In 2023, the Group announced that it will be investing $4.7 million in DG Fuels, a producer of SAF in the United States. The capital investment will aid in the development of a new SAF refinery in the state of Louisiana. The investment has secured access to 75,000 tons of SAF annually from 2029, which is an addition to the previous uptake agreement signed in October 2022 for the sourcing 600,000 tons of SAF over the 2027 to 2036 period.