Neste to supply Air France-KLM Group with more than 330 million gallons of SAF over 8 years

Photo: Neste Corp.

The Air France-KLM Group (AF-KLM) and Neste Corp. have announced the expansion of their existing cooperation with a new strategic partnership for the supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ (SAF) to the group.

This new SAF agreement, which entails Neste supplying Air France-KLM Group with more than 1 million metric tons (approximately 333 million gallons) of its SAF for a period of eight years, is one of the largest of its kind in the aviation industry to date.

Fully committed to reducing its environmental impact, the Air France-KLM Group aims to reduce its CO2 emissions per passenger/kilometer by 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2019—a target that has been submitted to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Its decarbonization trajectory includes the incorporation of 10 percent SAF by 2030, alongside fleet renewal and eco-piloting.

The contract with Neste, part of a first set of long-term supply agreements, constitutes a further step for the group to achieve its 10 percent SAF-incorporation targets.

“Neste is fully committed to helping the aviation industry achieve its 2050 net-zero carbon-emissions target, and sustainable aviation fuel will play a central role in that effort,” said Matti Lehmus, president and CEO of Neste. “Today’s announcement, which marks a significant next step forward in our cooperation with Air France-KLM Group, underscores how we continue to support companies to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. Neste aims to help customers cut emissions by at least 20 million tons of CO2e annually by 2030 with our renewable and circular solutions.”

Fatima da Gloria de Sousa, director of sustainability for Air France-KLM Group, added, “This landmark partnership with Neste is an important and concrete step towards the decarbonization of our operations. This contract embodies our long-term commitment to the development of SAF’s production capabilities around the world, to the benefit of the industry as a whole.”

The agreement builds on SAF supply to the Air France-KLM Group that started in 2019, but the two companies have been working together for several years with KLM being one of the first airlines using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

“As the world’s leading producer of SAF, we are helping the aviation industry to work towards a more sustainable future, already today,” said Thorsten Lange, executive vice president of renewable aviation at Neste. “This long-term collaboration with Air France-KLM shows how we are working together in a number of areas. By the end of next year, Neste will have an annual SAF production capacity of 1.5 million tons, ready to support the Air France-KLM Group and other airlines in Europe and across the globe.”

As a drop-in fuel, SAF can be used with existing aircraft engines and airport fuel infrastructure, requiring no new investment. Neste MY SAF is produced from 100 percent sustainably sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste.