TAP Air Portugal, Galp and ANA Aeroportos de Portugal have entered into a strategic partnership to develop, produce and supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on a large scale.
Announcing the initiative today, the three said the agreement heralds the start of a new aviation era in Portugal using SAF provided by Galp, in line with the European framework on mandatory incorporation of SAF in aviation.
The first flight in Portugal fuelled with SAF took place last Friday between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada in an Airbus 321neo.
The fuel included 39% material of renewable origin, which gave a 35% decrease in total CO2 emissions.
Christine Ourmières-Widener, TAP CEO, said: “For all three companies, developing sustainably sourced aviation fuels is a priority for moving towards an increasingly low-carbon industry, knowing that achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require a range of solutions – including electrification, hydrogen solutions, and SAF – working in combination. Aviation is changing and TAP is a part of the change.”
The partnership includes the ‘RefuelEU Aviation’ legislative initiative aimed at increasing the supply and demand for SAF in the European Union and its use by 2% by 2025, 5% by 2030 and 63% by 2050.
The SAF used on TAP flights will be supplied by the leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, Neste. Neste’s SAF is produced from sustainably sourced raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat.
