Toulon Hyères airport in France launches SAF service

Photo: VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, operator of Toulon Hyères airport, and World Fuel Services, holder of the airport’s fueling contract, are launching a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) service available to commercial and business aviation companies operating at the airport.

The fuels will be distributed in a 30 percent blend with conventional kerosene.

To distribute these fuels, VINCI Airports and WFS have chosen a 100 percent electric refueling truck with electric propulsion and distribution, maximizing the positive impact of this new service.

Produced from used cooking oil, SAF reduces CO2 emissions by around 80 percent over the entire lifecycle compared to fossil fuel.

By offering SAF to airlines, VINCI Airports is acting to decarbonize aviation (scope 3), in parallel with the actions carried out within the scope of its own airport activities (scopes 1 and 2).

As a precursor to the distribution of SAF in France, VINCI Airports is continuing to deploy the renewable fuel on its network with the provision of SAF at Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne airport (from April 2021) and Grenoble Alpes Isère airport.

Companies using SAF will benefit from a bonus under the eco-modulation scheme for landing fees implemented by VINCI Airports since 2020 in France.

This system of modulating landing fees (bonus/malus) according to aircraft CO2 emissions allows companies that emit less CO2 through a more efficient fleet and use of SAF to benefit from a reduction in their landing fees.

“This new offer of sustainable aviation fuel with a 100 percent electric vehicle demonstrates once again VINCI Airports’ commitment to the decarbonization of air transport, which we are applying here at Toulon Hyères airport,” said Basma Jarbouai, director of Toulon Hyères airport for VINCI Airports.