Aer Lingus has considerably enhanced its sustainability and ‘green’ credentials by agreeing a deal to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over the course of five years.
Aer Lingus will buy 19,000 tonnes of SAF each year for five years from the US-based renewable fuels producer Gevo. The move forms a huge part of Aer Lingus’ stated commitment to a lower carbon future.
As part of airline group IAG – which also owns British Airways, Vueling and Iberia – Aer Lingus has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It has also committed to powering 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030.
The introduction of SAF as a renewable fuel source is instrumental for the airline in realising its ambitions, Aer Lingus said.
Aer Lingus plans to commence fuelling its aircraft with SAF from Gevo from 2026. The supply agreement will see Aer Lingus purchase enough SAF to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by at least 180,000 tonnes, the equivalent of powering 1,000 net zero CO2 emissions flights between Dublin and Los Angeles on an A330 aircraft.
Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton said: “This agreement with Gevo marks an exciting and critical step on our journey to net zero carbon emissions and underlines our commitment to powering 10% of flights using sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.”
“The sustainable aviation fuel produced by Gevo will be used to power our flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco, and from 2026, 50% of fuel purchased by Aer Lingus from California will be sustainable aviation fuel,” Ms Embleton said.
“Gevo’s sustainable aviation fuel delivers renewable energy to a transportation sector that is actively seeking to reduce its carbon intensity,” said Dr Patrick R Gruber, Gevo chief executive.
“Because our fuel is fungible and drop-in ready, it’s expected to have an immediate impact to help our partner airlines achieve their sustainability targets ahead of schedule,” Dr Gruber said.
Just last month Aer Lingus signed a lease agreement for two new Airbus A320neo aircraft which will see this new generation aircraft joining Aer Lingus’ fleet for the very first time.
Investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft, along with sustainable aviation fuel, is another key driver of Aer Lingus’ sustainability programme. Other initiatives adopted by the airline to drive sustainability include a carbon offsetting tool which enables Aer Lingus customers to offset their flight emissions and support a range of global carbon reduction projects – such as rainforest protection and reforestation programmes.
