Reduced Scope 1 emissions of Airbus due to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Reduced Scope 1 emissions of Airbus due to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions, Airbus is actively pursuing a comprehensive strategy to integrate Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) into both its aircraft operations and wider ecosystem.

Regulators have approved that conventional "JET A1" can be fully replaced or combined with "drop-in" SAF inside any commercial aircraft fuel tanks. SAF, technically certified to international specifications and standards, can substitute Conventional Aviation Fuel (CAF) without modifications to an aircraft's structure or systems.

Airbus is targeting the neutralisation of residual emissions, and customer deliveries with SAF onboard have been taking place since 2016. However, the uptake of SAF for Production Flights and other internal operations has been limited due to low volumes available. This is changing as Airbus expands the use of SAF to two more facilities: Toulouse, France and Tianjin, China.

Operations and logistics, including component assembly lines, Final Assembly Lines, and Customer Delivery Centres, are already being carried out with SAF at these sites. Airbus Transport International (ATI) has been using SAF for its Beluga fleet since 2019 to transport large components and deliver satellites, military cargo, and humanitarian aid.

Recently, Volotea, the current TLS-FXW charter service provider, has been fueling a regional jet with a 34 percent 'drop-in' SAF blend. This collaboration is part of Airbus' efforts to drive the uptake of SAF across the aviation sector.

SAF is a blend of kerosene and technically modified feedstock such as used cooking oil, sawdust, or municipal solid waste. By the end of this decade, all Airbus manufacturing sites calling on the logistic services of ATI could be supplied with SAF.

Industrial production scale-up is also a key part of Airbus’ strategy. Notably, Airbus is cooperating with Indonesia in a project aimed at producing up to 100 million tonnes of SAF annually using sustainable feedstocks like agricultural residues and plant waste. This large-scale production capacity signals Airbus’ commitment to securing sustainable fuel supply chains beyond Europe.

Airbus is aiming to reduce its Scope 1 & Scope 2 industrial emissions by up to 63% by 2030 compared to 2015. The company is actively researching methods to track and increase SAF uptake across its fleet, adapting reporting to integrate mass-based data as it becomes available.

Airbus' current SAF strategy involves collaboration with fuel producers and airlines, supporting industrial-scale SAF production projects, and progressively incorporating SAF into both aircraft operations and emissions accounting. These efforts form a critical part of Airbus’ broader sustainability and net-zero ambition, with ongoing innovation and partnerships driving progress.

Airbus is committed to supporting and acting as a catalyst for the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The SAF mix has upwards of 80% GHG emissions reduction, making it a major contributor to Airbus' emissions-reduction roadmap.

[1] Source: Airbus Press Release, "Airbus and partners successfully complete first long-haul flight using SAF produced in France", 2021. [3] Source: Airbus Sustainability Report 2020. [4] Source: Airbus Press Release, "Airbus and Indonesia to collaborate on large-scale SAF production", 2021. [5] Source: Airbus Press Release, "Airbus sets out its ambition for a carbon-neutral aviation industry by 2050", 2021.

1. The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in Airbus' aircraft operations and ecosystem is a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the science of environmental-science.
2. The collaboration with Volotea to fuel a regional jet with a 34 percent SAF blend is part of Airbus' efforts to drive the uptake of SAF across the aviation industry, influencing the lifestyle and home-and-garden sectors towards sustainable-living.
3. Airbus' SAF strategy includes industrial-scale production, research, and partnerships to secure sustainable fuel supply chains, impacting both the finance and technology sectors through investments and innovation.
4. By adapting its reporting methods to integrate mass-based data, Airbus is actively researching ways to tract and increase SAF uptake across its fleet, aiming to reduce Scope 1 & Scope 2 industrial emissions by up to 63% by 2030.
5. The large-scale production capacity of up to 100 million tonnes of SAF annually, achieved through the cooperation with Indonesia, demonstrates Airbus' commitment to securing sustainable fuel supply chains beyond Europe and contributing to the global efforts against climate-change.

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