DHL becomes 1st express-cargo carrier to use SAF at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
DHL Express announced Nov. 9 that it has signed a landmark purchase agreement with Total Energies that will introduce the first use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by DHL Express in France.
This marks a new step in DHL Express’ efforts to decarbonize international air transportation of parcels.
DHL Express is the first express logistics provider to use SAF at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), operating from its regional hub.
With this pioneering deployment, the company reinforces its leadership in driving the industry’s decarbonization, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of its flagship French air hub, a facility recognized for its innovation.
DHL has entered a renewable one-year partnership with Total Energies to fuel aircraft departing from its Paris CDG hub with SAF.
This initial phase covers 5 million liters (1.32 million gallons) of SAF over the course of one year.
The first DHL aircraft powered with SAF took off Nov. 9 from Paris CDG.
“This latest milestone is part of DHL’s global strategy to decarbonize express transportation and help our customers reduce their transport-related indirect emissions,” said Travis Cobb, DHL Express’s executive vice president of global network operations and aviation. “In 2025, SAF already accounted for 10 percent of the aviation fuel used across DHL’s own aircraft fleet, positioning our group as a leader in both logistics and aviation sustainability.”
Philippe Prétat, CEO of DHL Express France, added, “Five years ago, the opening of our Paris Charles de Gaulle Hub marked a major milestone in the development of DHL Express in France. Today, the introduction of SAF at this facility opens a new chapter. By becoming the first express operator to use SAF at Paris CDG Airport, we are demonstrating that world-class international logistics performance and a reduced carbon footprint can go hand in hand. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting French businesses in their global trade activities while contributing to the transformation of our industry.”
Mathieu Soulas, the director of new mobilities at Total Energies, said, “Total Energies is fully committed to supporting the aviation sector in reducing its carbon footprint. Sustainable aviation fuels are a key lever for reducing aviation emissions today. They contribute both to our customers’ decarbonization efforts and to the industrial transformation of our refineries. This agreement with DHL strengthens our partnership and reflects our shared determination to accelerate the development and adoption of SAF. SAF represents a genuine growth industry that supports the energy transition of both aviation and industry.”
SAF is produced from waste and residual materials derived from the circular economy, such as used cooking oil.
As an alternative to conventional fossil-based jet fuel, SAF can be used immediately in existing aircraft without requiring modifications to aircraft or airport infrastructure.
Compared with conventional fossil jet fuel, SAF can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by around 80 percent over its lifecycle, depending on the feedstock and production method used.
The environmental benefit is measured not only during aircraft operations but across the entire fuel value chain, including production, transportation and consumption.
For DHL in France, this initiative is expected to reduce CO2e emissions by approximately 11,800 metric tons annually.
The SAF-powered flights will operate from the DHL Paris Charles de Gaulle Hub to the company’s air hubs in Leipzig, Casablanca, Milan and London.
To ensure transparent allocation of emissions reductions to customers, DHL will integrate these SAF volumes into its GoGreen Plus decarbonization offering.
GoGreen Plus provides emission-reduced solutions across DHL’s core operations using sustainable fuels and low-carbon technologies.
Emission reductions are allocated through a book-and-claim mechanism, allowing DHL to replace fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives within its network while assigning the resulting environmental benefits to customers who choose the solution, even when their shipments are not physically transported using those fuels.
Through GoGreen Plus, customers can reduce their scope 3 emissions associated with upstream and downstream transportation and distribution activities while supporting their greenhouse-gas emissions reporting and broader decarbonization objectives.
