Airbus' direct greenhouse gas emissions, specifically from burning jet fuel, are lessened via the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Airbus, a global leader in the aerospace industry, is actively promoting and supporting the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions in aviation.
SAFs, a blend of kerosene and modified feedstock such as used cooking oil, sawdust, or municipal solid waste, can provide on average 80 percent CO savings over the entire lifecycle when compared to traditional aviation fuel. These fuels are technically certified to international specifications and standards, allowing them to substitute Conventional Aviation Fuels (CAF) without modifications to an aircraft's structure or systems. After blending, the fuel is certified to ASTM D1655 and can be regarded as conventional Jet A1 kerosene.
Airbus is focusing on SAF as a major contributor to its emissions-reduction roadmap. The company is working towards reducing the environmental footprint of its products and services. Two more Airbus facilities, located in Toulouse, France, and Tianjin, China, are progressively replacing CAF with SAF uptake.
Airbus Transport International (ATI) has been using SAF to transport large components since 2019, and operations and logistics are now being carried out with SAF at these sites. The SAF blend used in Airbus' Employee Shuttles, linking main sites across Europe and the UK, is now a 34% 'drop-in' SAF blend, provided by Volotea.
Regulators have approved that conventional "JET A1" can be fully replaced or combined with "drop-in" SAF inside any commercial aircraft fuel tanks. The use of 100% SAF has been tested on the A350 and the A320 for in-flight emissions testing. Airbus' Production Flights, part of the serial production aircraft test procedures, are now using SAF.
By the end of this decade, all Airbus manufacturing sites calling on the logistic services of ATI could be supplied with SAF. Airbus actively supports implementing incentives and long-term policies to encourage the growth of SAF market development.
Airbus is committed to sustainable aerospace, aiming to reduce Scope 1 & Scope 2 industrial emissions by up to 63% by 2030 compared to 2015. The company is engaged with policymakers to encourage increased SAF production and uptake through mandates and financial incentives.
In partnership with Air France-KLM and Total, Airbus conducted long-haul flights powered by SAF produced in France, demonstrating practical usage and scaling of SAF technology. Airbus is also researching methods to better track the actual uptake of SAF in its fleet to improve sustainability reporting and emissions accounting.
The regional jet from Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is now fueled with the same 34% SAF blend proposed for customer deliveries from Airbus' Hamburg site and which also tops up the Beluga before its next destination.
Airbus' ambition extends beyond reducing residual emissions. The company is committed to neutralizing its carbon footprint, recognizing the crucial role SAF plays in achieving this goal.
[1] Airbus (2021). Airbus accelerates its sustainable aviation fuel ambitions. [online] Available at: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/03/airbus-accelerates-its-sustainable-aviation-fuel-ambitions.html
[2] Airbus (2021). Airbus and Air France-KLM to conduct long-haul flights powered by sustainable aviation fuel produced in France. [online] Available at: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/04/airbus-and-air-france-klm-to-conduct-long-haul-flights-powered-by-sustainable-aviation-fuel-produced-in-france.html
[3] Airbus (2021). Airbus and Total partner to advance sustainable aviation fuel production and distribution. [online] Available at: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/03/airbus-and-total-partner-to-advance-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production-and-distribution.html
[4] Airbus (2020). Airbus and SkyNRG to collaborate on sustainable aviation fuel production for Airbus' Production Flights. [online] Available at: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/10/airbus-and-skynrg-to-collaborate-on-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production-for-airbus-production-flights.html
[5] Airbus (2020). Airbus Transport International begins using sustainable aviation fuel for transport of large components. [online] Available at: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/09/airbus-transport-international-begins-using-sustainable-aviation-fuel-for-transport-of-large-components.html
- Airbus, alongside Air France-KLM and Total, showcases the practical usage of SAF technology through long-haul flights powered by SAF produced in France.
- Regulators have approved the full replacement or combination of conventional "Jet A1" with "drop-in" SAF inside any commercial aircraft fuel tanks.
- Airbus is researching methods to better track the actual uptake of SAF in its fleet to improve sustainability reporting and emissions accounting.
- SAFs, a blend of kerosene and modified feedstock, can provide on average 80 percent CO savings over the entire lifecycle when compared to traditional aviation fuel.
- Airbus is committed to neutralizing its carbon footprint, recognizing the crucial role SAF plays in achieving this goal, and is actively supporting the growth of SAF market development through incentives and long-term policies.
