Wizz Air and Airbus Partner in a Pioneering Sustainable Aviation Fuel Trial to Redefine Industry Benchmarks with Bold Innovation
Category:NewsWizz Air, recognized as the world’s most environmentally sustainable airline group by the CAPA Centre for Aviation, has announced its upcoming trial of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in collaboration with Airbus. This initiative positions Wizz Air as a leader in adhering to the EU’s upcoming RefuelEU aviation regulations, which are slated to be enforced in 2025. The collaboration highlights the airline’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in line with the EU’s Destination 2050 goals.
The RefuelEU aviation regulation, part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, mandates that fuel suppliers at certain EU airports must offer a minimum percentage of SAF, with this share increasing over time. Airlines will also be required to refuel 90% of their fuel needs from these designated airports. By integrating SAF into its operations, Wizz Air is not only enhancing the efficiency of its Airbus A321neo fleet but also proactively aligning with these upcoming regulations and gauging passengers’ awareness of SAF and related policies.
The trial will include flights on two key routes: Barcelona to Budapest (BCN-BUD) and Brussels Charleroi to Budapest (CRL-BUD). SAF for these flights will be supplied by Cepsa and distributed by World Fuel Services (a World Kinect Company) at each departure airport. The trial, expected to conclude by the end of the year, will utilize the mass balance approach. Wizz Air plans to purchase up to 16 metric tons of pure SAF with a blend of up to 5% SAF at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and up to 18 metric tons of pure SAF with a 10% blend at Brussels Charleroi Airport.
Commenting on the initiative, Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air’s Corporate and ESG Officer, said: “This cross-industry collaboration with Airbus is a demonstration of the commitment of the aviation community to reduce emissions intensity. It’s crucial for all actors in the aviation ecosystem to play their part and join forces to reach the industry goal of net zero by 2050. SAF is a key enabler and that is why Wizz Air supports this pioneering EU policy and has made significant strategic investments into SAF as a result. As a proud EU airline, celebrating 20 years of transformative travel this year, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and leading the industry by example with our goal of having 10% of our flights powered by SAF by 2030. Through this project, we are not only testing SAF operations but also gathering insights from our passengers on their awareness of levers to decarbonise aviation. Our valued passengers are key stakeholders in the value chain and their feedback will play a crucial role in shaping our future sustainability initiatives.”
The trial will also feature a passenger survey, inviting Wizz Air travelers to provide feedback on their awareness and perceptions of SAF and aviation sustainability initiatives. The results will be made publicly available, offering insights into changing passenger expectations and helping Wizz Air, along with the broader aviation industry, to refine and strengthen their sustainability efforts.
Julie Kitcher, Airbus’ Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications said: “At Airbus, we are committed to driving the adoption of SAF as an essential element of our decarbonisation strategy. Fuel-efficient aircraft and SAF will provide the majority of the emissions reductions our industry needs to make by 2050, which is why working together – with partners like Wizz Air – to efficiently integrate SAF across airline operations is such an important step to be taking today. We also look forward to the insights from Wizz Air’s upcoming passenger survey. Understanding how flying customers feel about decarbonisation can support the aviation industry’s SAF adoption. We’re pleased to be partnering with Wizz Air during this trial.”
Airbus will collaborate with Wizz Air in this trial, offering technical expertise and support to optimize the use of SAF within the airline’s operations. By taking early steps to integrate SAF and prepare for upcoming regulatory changes, Wizz Air is positioning itself to offer more environmentally friendly air travel options to millions of passengers across Europe.
Local fuel suppliers working with Wizz Air recognize the importance of partnerships like this, as they create industry visibility and build confidence in producers, encouraging the growth of SAF supply to meet the increasing demand from airlines.
Duncan Storey, Senior Vice President, supply and commercial development EMEA, World Fuel stated: “Aligning with the upcoming RefuelEU aviation requirements is an important milestone in our efforts to expand the availability of sustainable fuels. We are supporting Wizz Air’s goals by delivering a consistent supply of SAF to their key European routes, selling 18 metric tons of neat SAF in a 10% blend. Since 2015, we have been actively working to increase the availability of lower-carbon aviation fuels across the globe. Our SAF supply network in Europe includes multiple key locations such as the UK, Germany, and France.”
Marta Cencillo, Head of Sustainable Aviation at Cepsa added: “Cepsa is pleased to participate with Wizz Air in this important initiative to move towards effective emissions reduction ahead of the REFuelEU mandate. As a leading energy supplier to the aviation sector in Spain, we are committed to working with our customers to decarbonize their business and SAF is an immediate solution to help decarbonize flights without the need for changes to aircraft engines.”
