Aeromexico recognizes International Day of Climate Action with SAF

As part of the International Day of Climate Action Oct. 24, Aeromexico operated its first flights between the U.S. and Mexico with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reducing 27 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to making more than 3,800 cars zero-emission for one day in Mexico City.

The flights departed from San Francisco to Guadalajara and Mexico City, and they were served in a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with GE/Safran CFM56 engines. For these trips, almost 40,000 liters (10,567 gallons) of SAF made from waste animal fats and vegetable oils, as well as Jet-A jet fuel, were purchased. As the beginning of a long-term partnership, the supplier was Neste Corp., a leading producer and supplier of renewable fuels.

“Reducing CO2 emissions is part of our sustainable strategy to combat climate change,” said Maria Dolores Paradis, Aeromexico’s sustainable project planning manager. “For more than a decade, we have had a fuel efficiency program that has reduced around 270,000 tons of CO2, equivalent to the circulation of 105,000 cars per year in Mexico City. Aeromexico’s operations, engineering, and optimization teams take care every day of these initiatives that challenge us as a company and as an industry, contributing to a better future for Mexico and the world.”

SAF allows airlines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent, and Aeromexico is a pioneer in its use in Mexico and Latin America. In 2010, several flights operated with SAF between Mexico and Costa Rica as part of the Green Flights campaign. In 2011, the first transatlantic flight using SAF was served between Mexico and Madrid, and in 2012 the airline operated a flight to São Paulo for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development RIO+20. These initiatives were possible thanks to the company’s operations engineering team.

Aeromexico is one of the most innovative airlines in the market since it continually invests in modern aircraft, equipped with lean-burn combustion technologies and high propulsive efficiency. As a result, the company has reduced by up to 25 percent fuel burn. This reinforces the commitment for future SAF operations in collaboration with GE and Safran.

Among other initiatives, the airline has Vuela Verde, a voluntary emissions compensation program through which customers and employees can contribute 90 Mexican pesos (USD$4.46) when purchasing their airline tickets to offset their flight carbon footprint. The proceeds are invested in certified socioenvironmental projects.

As part of International Air Transport Association’s Annual General Meeting Agenda, held in early October, Mexico’s global airline echoed IATA’s resolution, regarding the long-term commitment to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 13 Climate Action of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, Aeromexico will continue to implement initiatives to reduce and offset its emissions and pave the way to a greener future.