Air France Halves CO2 Emissions of Two Flights

Aviation Fuel (Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)), Business News/Analysis, Canada, Feedstocks, France, Funding/Financing/Investing, Not Agriculture, Performance, Portugal, R & D Focus, Sustainability

June 7, 2022

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(Uniting Aviation) n April Air France launched “Air France ACT“, a programme that aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% per passenger-km by 2030 compared to 2019 (i.e. 12% less total emissions). To demonstrate how this objective can be achieved, the airline simultaneously implemented a series of actions on two of its flights leaving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

This project is part of the “Skyteam Sustainable Flight Challenge”, an initiative aimed at stimulating and encouraging innovation by inviting the alliance’s member airlines to operate the most eco-responsible flights possible from 1 to 14 May 2022.

Through this initiative Air France intends to:

measure and illustrate the effectiveness of methods already implemented and proven, such as new generation aircraft, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), eco-piloting, and the use of electric ramp and cargo transport equipment
explore new avenues that could be exploited in the future, such as the extensive use of artificial intelligence to optimise flight paths, or the use of autonomous tractors for baggage transport,
offering customers more sustainable, local and seasonal catering, limiting food waste by allowing them to choose the in-flight menu before they fly, and limiting single-use plastic,

The operation took place on two commercial flights, one to Montreal operated by an Airbus A350 on 3 May 2022, and the other to Lisbon on 4 May 2022, operated by an Airbus A220. These latest-generation aircraft, which are at the heart of Air France’s fleet renewal strategy, consume 20 to 25% less fuel than previous generation aircraft. Their noise footprint is reduced by a third. By 2030, these aircraft will account for 70% of the Air France fleet, compared with 7% today, thanks to an investment of one billion euros per year between now and 2025.

The flight to Montreal was fuelled with 16% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the flight to Lisbon with 30% SAF, compared with 1% currently used on flights leaving from France under the current regulations. These non-fossil fuels are produced from biomass such as used cooking oil. They do not compete with the food chain and allow an average reduction of 80% in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional fuel over their entire life cycle. To take the example of used vegetable oils, this means taking into account the capture of CO₂ during the growth of the plant, its first life as cooking oil, its recycling and its use as aviation fuel. READ MORE

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