Air France-KLM has selected TotalEnergies as its long-term supplier of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TotalEnergies on December 5, 2022, which saw the France-based developer of sustainable aviation fuels commit to supplying the airline with more than a million cubic meters (around 800,000 tonnes) of SAF over a 10-year period starting from 2023.
Air France-KLM plans to use the SAF, which will be produced at TotalEnergies biorefineries, on its flights departing both from France and the Netherlands.
“Air France-KLM is fully committed to advancing SAF production in Europe and around the world. This Memorandum of Understanding with TotalEnergies is another building block in the development of French production that can meet the airlines’ needs, marking a milestone in the successful decarbonization of our business,” the airline’s chief executive Benjamin Smith was cited as saying in the carrier’s statement.
According to TotalEnergies, its fuel is made from waste and residue sourced from the circular economy, such as animal fat and used cooking oil. Aiming to produce around 1.5 million tons of SAF by 2030, the supplier claims its fuel will cut aircraft emissions by at least 80% on average compared to regular jet fuel.
TotalEnergies has already supplied SAF for a number of Air France-KLM Group commercial flights. Air France performed its first long-haul flight between Paris (CDG) and Montreal (YUL), powered by 16% SAF in May 2021. Then, in October 2021, the carrier conducted a shorter flight between Paris (CDG) and Nice (NCE), which was powered by 30% SAF.
Most recently, in June 2022, subsidiary airlines of the Air France-KLM Group performed several other passenger flights powered by TotalEnergies-made 30% SAF.
