Air France-KLM Signs Its 1st SAF Agreement With A UK Airport

Air France-KLM has just announced that Teesside International Airport (MME) will be the first airport in the UK to join the Air France-KLM Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program. The partnership marks a significant milestone in the SAF program as it brings the program into a new market. This latest addition to the partnership is part of the airline’s plans to expand the use of SAF across its operations to reduce CO2 emissions.

Airport partnership

The partnership with MME will enable Air France-KLM to access SAF at MME, giving the Air France and KLM planes another access point to more sustainable fuel. While the transition from conventional fuel to SAF will take some time, it marks an essential milestone in the decarbonization of air transportation. Because MME will switch to using SAF fuel, the carbon footprint produced by Air France-KLM will be dramatically reduced on flights departing MME.

Photo: Air France-KLM

The managing director at MME, Phil Forster, shared how this latest partnership will help the airport and airline reach sustainability goals. Forster also stated that this latest decision would allow it to set a standard for other airports to follow as it hopes to become a leader in the sustainable aviation industry. Forster stated,

“Partnering with the airlines that have long supported our airport to address the critical issues facing the industry is central to achieving these aims, that will benefit the world. We’re excited to be the UK’s first airport to sign up to this programme, setting out our stall as a leader in supporting emerging technologies in the sector.”We have a lot of work ahead of us to decarbonise our airport from top to bottom, not just in its day-to-day operations but also in its flights – but with initiatives like this I’ve no doubt we can succeed.”

This new partnership has been exciting for all involved parties. The General Manager of Air France-KLM in the UK and Ireland, Fahmi Mahjoub, shared the airline’s excitement about the MME partnership. Mahjoub shared how the new partnership is a significant step in the airline’s plans to further its SAF operations, stating,

“I am very excited to welcome Teesside International Airport as the first airport in the UK to join our SAF programme. This is a major step forward in addressing our sustainability challenge as an aviation company by partnering with a UK airport to help the environment. Today marks the start of a new level of cooperation across the industry and we hope that this news helps spread the awareness in the UK and that more companies will join us in making SAF more readily available around the globe.”

Sustainable goals

SAF usage has become one of Air France and KLM’s primary methods of reducing carbon emissions. The only methods the airline’s place above its usage in furthering sustainability goals is fleet modernization and operational optimization. Both airlines have been heavily involved in researching and developing alternative aviation fuel for over a decade. In 2011 the airlines were among the first to operate commercial flights with SAF.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The airlines have cited that less than 1% of fuel used in commercial aviation comes from sustainable sources. Air France-KLM’s sustainability program acts as a means by which the airline can further the production and usage of SAF by partnering with SAF manufacturing companies and organizations. Additionally, the airlines have been working with airports to help secure the distribution and accessibility of these fuels the airlines are investing heavily in.

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