Welcome aboard the SAF journey

In line with its decarbonisation roadmap, Airbus is joining forces with airlines to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel for employee business travel.

Over the last decade, Airbus has gradually introduced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its company operations. In 2023, Airbus reached its goal to reach 10% SAF in its fuel mix. By using the alternative fuel in aircraft deliveries to customers, in test flights, for Beluga transport and employee business travel, Airbus was able to reduce its 2023 CO₂ emissions by 23,587 tonnes. 

Still, there is a considerable amount that can be achieved to develop the SAF market. Airlines are supporting the effort by proposing SAF in business travel procurement. Airbus is taking advantage of the growing offer to make corporate travel flights powered with SAF available to employees. 

Zooming in on employee travel

With the aim to reduce the CO₂ footprint of employees, Airbus is working with several airlines to purchase SAF for business travel. It’s a strategic move that aligns with Airbus’ ambitions to reduce the company’s Scope 3 emissions. 

Thanks to such innovative SAF incentive programmes, we are able to walk the talk in reducing the environmental impact of our business travel and empower employees to take part in the effort of meeting Airbus’ CO₂ emission reduction goals.

Raphael DUFLOS, Head of Corporate Services General Procurement

 In 2022 and 2023, Airbus signed agreements with airlines Volotea and Air Corsica to have SAF onboard for internal charter flights connecting Toulouse to Finkenwerder, Germany, and Toulouse to Nantes and Saint-Nazaire in France. 

In order to further develop this practice, Airbus and Air France-KLM signed a first agreement in late 2023 adding routes between Paris and Toulouse as well as Paris and Marseille. 

But as SAF is not yet available at every airport, Airbus uses a Book and Claim process. This means that the flights are not necessarily powered with SAF. Rather, the purchased SAF goes into the fuel system at an airport close to a SAF production facility. This process ensures a more efficient lifecycle. The SAF purchased by Airbus is tracked and verified to allocate the correct carbon emissions factors.

New routes, more SAF with Air France KLM

After a successful pilot in 2023, Air France-KLM and Airbus are pursuing their collaboration with a 2024 “SAF fares agreement”. Airbus will now purchase SAF options for employee business travel connecting Hamburg, Madrid, Marseille, Munich and Toulouse to Paris. 

The airline will provide Airbus with a comprehensive report of SAF consumption and an estimation of the CO₂ footprint of Airbus’ employee travel on the five selected routes.