Air France KLM Martinair Cargo launches SAF program for airfreight industry

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has launched the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program for the airfreight industry, enabling freight forwarders and shippers to reduce their CO2 emissions. By investing in the Cargo SAF Programme, customers will not only help pioneer the use of SAF in the airfreight industry, but will also scale up the SAF market, contributing to a cleaner future for air transport.

“Our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions is one of the cornerstones of our cargo strategy,” said Adriaan den Heijer, executive vice president of Air France-KLM Cargo and managing director of Martinair. “The launch of an SAF program for airfreight is an important step in our ambitious sustainability roadmap for the coming years. I invite all our customers to join us in creating a more sustainable cargo future.”

The first step towards a carbon-free future is carbon-neutral growth in the industry, which implies there should be no increase in CO2 emissions despite traffic growth. Investing in SAF is a necessary step in this process and one of the primary instruments in reducing CO2 emissions. For years, Air France and KLM have led the way in terms of fuel efficiency and seeking alternative fuel solutions. KLM operated the world’s first commercial flight using SAF on June 29, 2011, with a flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Paris Charles de Gaulle. Shortly thereafter, it began offering corporate customers the option of compensating for CO2 emissions from business travel by investing in SAF.

SAF is still not widely available. That is why this program has been set up for shippers and forwarders, to stimulate and enlarge the market for SAF. Investment will help further develop SAF and the market for SAF, but also put SAF higher on the agenda of all stakeholders. This new program will enable collaboration with shippers and forwarders who share a commitment to sustainability, making SAF more widely available at a more reasonable price, competing with standard jet fuel.

The Cargo SAF Programme enables shippers and forwarders to power a percentage of their flights with SAF. Customers determine their own level of engagement and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo ensures that their entire investment is used for sourcing SAF. When investing in SAF, customers receive a third-party audited report, justifying the purchased volume of SAF in relation to traffic and indicating the reduction in CO2 emissions achieved. By participating in the Cargo SAF Programme, customers not only reduce the carbon footprint, but confirm their commitment to leading the industry towards a more sustainable future. Only with the support of all industry stakeholders can a more viable market for SAF be developed.