Sustainability is the new major driving force for change in contemporary commercial aviation. Both airlines and fuel suppliers are keen to stay at the forefront of this change.
The presidents of Iberia and Iberia Express and the CEO of Cepsa signed an agreement today, January 24, in order to move forward in the decarbonization of the airline industry through the development and research of sustainably sourced fuels and other energy alternatives, such as renewable hydrogen and electricity. This aims to foster the sustainable mobility of aircraft and the fleet of vehicles that serve them at airports.
According to Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Cepsa, «this alliance shows Cepsa’s commitment to sustainability and our firm determination to support our customers by providing them with viable solutions that accelerate their energy transition. As a benchmark in the supply of fuels for the airline industry, we share with the Iberia Group the common goal of promoting the decarbonization of transport as a tool in the fight against climate change».
As part of the IAG Group, Iberia and Iberia Express are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and to operating a minimum of 10% of their flights with sustainably sourced fuels by 2030.
The Iberia Group is developing its sustainability strategy on three pillars: more efficient operations, a more sustainable travel experience for its customers, and commitment to research and development of sustainable fuels and other technologies that contribute to the decarbonization of the sector.
«For the decarbonization of the airline industry, the development, production, and distribution of sustainably sourced fuels at affordable prices and in sufficient quantity to supply airlines are essential. We are confident that this agreement with Cepsa will contribute to this goal,» said Javier Sánchez-Prieto, Iberia’s President and CEO.
For its part, Iberia Express, as a short- and medium-haul low-cost airline within the Iberia Group, will also support the transition to alternative sources of aircraft propulsion as part of this initiative. For Carlos Gómez, CEO of Iberia Express, «it is time to create synergies between companies that have the same objective, to be able to develop our business and operations while minimizing our environmental impact. This agreement is an important step on this path towards a more sustainable air transport, in line with our joint commitment to the decarbonization of the sector».
This agreement between Cepsa and the Iberia Group is in line with the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, which includes a legislative initiative called ‘RefuelEU Aviation’, which aims to boost the supply and demand of aviation biofuels in the European Union, reaching 2% use by 2025, 5% by 2030 and 63% by 2050.
