Ryanair purchases 1,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel from Shell

Ryanair announced March 28 that it has purchased 1,000 metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from global energy group Shell—enough SAF to fuel over 200 flights from Stansted, U.K., to Madrid, Spain—which will be supplied to the airline at its Stansted Airport base.

This purchase follows the agreement made between the companies in 2022, providing Ryanair with unique access to purchase up to 360,000 tons of SAF from Shell between 2025 and 2030, which could save up to 900,000 tons in CO2 emissions.

The announcement, part of an event showcasing the tools Ryanair is using to decarbonize, demonstrates the airline’s continued commitment to achieve net zero by 2050, Ryanair stated.

Ryanair has already significantly advanced its decarbonization commitments through its work with Trinity College Dublin in the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre, and by investing heavily in new-technology aircraft, including a $22 billion investment in its “Gamechanger” fleet, which reduce CO2 emissions by 16 percent, and a further $40 billion investment for 300 Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft, which reduce CO2 emissions by 20 percent and noise by 50 percent while carrying 21 percent more passengers.  

“Ryanair continues to lead the way in sustainable aviation,” said Thomas Fowler, Ryanair’s director of sustainability and finance.

“As demonstrated today at Stansted, by using SAF, the latest engine technologies and electric ground-handling equipment, we are making significant investments to decarbonize our operations and achieve our commitments of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and 25 percent less CO2 emissions per passenger/kilometer by 2031,” Fowler continued. “Our partners at Shell and MAG are key enablers of these goals, and today’s announcement of Ryanair’s purchase of 1,000 tons of SAF from Shell is testament to that. We will continue to work with our partners across the network to make every Ryanair flight as environmentally efficient as possible.”

Shell’s general manager of aviation in Europe and South Africa, Ashleigh McDougall, added, “Shell is delighted to have started supplying sustainable aviation fuel to Ryanair at Stansted Airport, helping a valued customer reduce emissions on flights from a crucial U.K. transport hub. Having signed a memorandum of understanding to supply SAF to Ryanair in 2022, we’re pleased to see intentions converted into actions as we continue to support our customers on their decarbonization journeys.”