Neste, Viva Aerobus sign sustainable aviation fuel purchase agreement

Photo: Viva Aerobus

Neste and Viva Aerobus, the Mexican ultra low-cost carrier, have signed a new purchase agreement for 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™.

The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied to Viva Aerobus will be blended with conventional jet fuel and used to power the airline’s flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.

Last June, Viva Aerobus completed its first flight powered by Neste’s SAF from Los Angeles to Guadalajara, and the current agreement is the next step in fulfilling the airline’s mission of further reducing its carbon emissions.

SAF-powered flights will start to take off in the second half of this year with each flight using a fuel blend with about 35 percent of Neste MY SAF.

The total volume of SAF purchased will help Viva Aerobus reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by approximately 2,415 tons of CO2 equivalent. This is roughly the same as the emissions from 537 passenger cars in the U.S. in a year.

“We embrace the goal to reduce our carbon footprint, a goal which requires an extensive commitment,” said Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of Viva Aerobus. “We are proud to increase the use of SAF, partnering with Neste, and we will also continue to take further steps in adhering to best practices in sustainability such as optimizing our fuel efficiency. We deeply thank Neste for supporting us on our journey towards becoming a more ecofriendly carrier.”

Michael Sargeant, vice president of the Americas from Neste’s renewable aviation business unit, added, “We are thrilled to team up with Viva Aerobus, a fast-growing airline, and support their commitment to minimizing the carbon footprint of their flights with our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Los Angeles International Airport is an important hub for Viva Aerobus travelers to fly between the U.S. and Mexico, and this partnership will make their trips more sustainable, building on Neste’s capabilities to supply SAF to airlines at one of the busiest airports in the U.S. and the world.”

In addition to purchasing Neste’s SAF, Viva's recent efforts to contribute to a more sustainable Mexican air industry include Viva being the airline with the youngest aircraft fleet in Mexico equipped with fuel-efficient technology, implementing the first program in Mexico aimed to separate and recycle on-board waste, and the launching of its voluntary carbon-offset program.