Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, announced a partnership with Neste Holland to power approximately one-third of its flights from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS) with a 40% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
According to the Irish airline, the blend will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from flights using it by 60%. The initiative is part of Pathway To Net Zero, Ryanair’s decarbonization program unveiled in March. The company says it aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
See also: Ryanair aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
«We are delighted to announce this landmark deal with Neste which will see Ryanair uplift this new 40% SAF blend», said Thomas Fowler, Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability. He said sustainable aviation fuel is key to its emissions reduction strategy.
«We look forward to growing our partnership with Neste as we work toward achieving our goal of operating 12.5% of Ryanair flights with SAF by 2030», he added.
For his part, Jonathan Wood, Neste’s Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation, said: «We are excited to support Ryanair’s work towards its decarbonization goals by supplying our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel».
«The aviation sector is now at a tipping point as demand increases, and policy proposals are on the table in the EU and the UK to promote demand and supply of SAF», he added. Finally, he noted that the company is «leading the transformation» to alternative fuels and stressed that it is working to «increase global SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons per annum in 2023».
Global air traffic is expected to double in the next fifteen years and, consequently, emissions related to the sector will increase. Many possible solutions, such as electrification, are still in the early stages of development. In this context, the alternatives available in the short term become relevant. The fuel developed by Neste, which is already in commercial use, is one such example.
