Iberia Maintenance begins to use 5% SAF in its aircraft-engine test benches

Photo: Cepsa

Starting Aug. 28, Iberia Maintenance will use 5 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its engine test bench at the La Muñoza facilities, near Spain’s Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport, in what marks another step towards the decarbonization of the sector.

The use of this type of fuel will allow for a reduction of 115 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Iberia Maintenance thus becomes the first Spanish aeronautical-maintenance provider to continuously use this type of fuel in its engine test bench for commercial airlines.

Cepsa will market this second-generation biofuel produced from organic waste and used cooking oils at its La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva, Spain. Specifically, during this year, the energy company will provide Iberia Maintenance with more than 36 tons of SAF.

“We are very proud to have taken another step towards the decarbonization of the sector with the use of SAF in our test bench, which will allow us to reduce our CO2 emissions by 115 tons,” said Teresa Parejo, Iberia’s director of sustainability. “Collaboration, technology and innovation are the essential elements to achieve the industry’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Marta Cencillo, Cepsa’s head of sustainable aviation, added, “We continue to take steps together with Iberia to facilitate the sustainability of their operations and promote sustainable aviation. We work to keep being a reference in the production and distribution of SAF, which will be essential in the coming years to achieve the decarbonization objectives of the aviation sector.” 

The use of SAF in Iberia Maintenance engine tests is part of the environmental sustainability strategy of the International Airlines Group, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Among other actions, Iberia, Iberia Express and Cepsa signed a collaboration agreement for the development and research of fuels of sustainable origin and other energy alternatives, such as the electrification of the fleet, to promote the sustainable mobility of airplanes and the fleet of vehicles that provide services to them at airports.

In 2023, Iberia Maintenance carried out more than 170 engine inductions.

An aircraft-engine test bench is a specialized facility designed to evaluate and validate the performance, efficiency and reliability of engines before being installed on aircraft after overhaul and repair.

These test benches allow engine manufacturers and airlines to conduct extensive testing in a controlled environment, ensuring engines meet the safety and performance standards required for aviation.