The Air France-KLM group aims to fly cleaner: it has signed an agreement for the development of biofuel with Silvateam, world leader in the production, processing and marketing of plant extracts, tannins and their derivatives. Thanks to agreements like this in support of the Air France-KLM Corporate Biofuel Program, Air France operated its first intercontinental flight on the Paris Charles de Gaulle-Montreal route on 18 May, powered by SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel).
Says Stefan Vanovermeir, General Manager of Air France-KLM East Mediterranean: “The production of sustainable aviation fuels is fundamental to achieving the CO₂ reduction targets in our sector and agreements such as the one with Silvateam help us to achieve them faster. The recent SAF-powered flight from Paris to Montreal is the tangible result of our commitment to developing a supply chain capable of increasing the availability of sustainable fuel on a large scale and making its price increasingly competitive with respect to fossil fuels ”.
The agreement is part of the SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) corporate program launched by Air France-KLM to propose companies to play an active role in the future of sustainable travel. Through the SAF program, Air France and KLM corporate customers, after estimating the CO₂ emissions associated with their travel, can determine the annual contribution they wish to make to this program.
Sustainable aviation fuels can be made from waste oils, waste products and forest residues. They can be incorporated into aircraft fuel without any modifications to the engine. Their use can reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuel. The main challenge today is the development of a sustainable industry to which the corporate customers of Air France and KLM can make a concrete contribution.