On August 25, Airbus delivered an A220-300 aircraft to Air France, marking the first time the manufacturer’s Canadian site in Mirabel issued official sustainability credentials directly to a customer. The delivery flight from Canada to Paris used a 50% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and conventional jet fuel. This aircraft, named Vaison-la-Romaine, is the 46th A220 in Air France’s fleet.
Airbus stated that using a 50% SAF blend on this transatlantic flight reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 tonnes compared to standard jet fuel. The company noted that all its aircraft are currently certified to operate with up to a 50% SAF blend and aims for full compatibility with 100% SAF across all models by 2030.
Blaise Brigaud, SVP Group Sustainability at Air France-KLM, commented: “Fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuel are the two main levers of the decarbonization of aviation. Combining the two is only logical, and Air France-KLM is proud to participate in this Airbus milestone with the delivery flight of one of our A220s. Air France-KLM is among the world’s largest buyers of SAF. Directly receiving SAF at delivery is a game-changer, increasing transparency and driving industry progress.”