Wizz Air, Neste sign MOU for supply of sustainable aviation fuel

Photo: Wizz Air

Wizz Air has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Neste Corp. for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) beginning in 2025, the airline announced Feb. 22.

The MOU gives Wizz Air the opportunity to purchase 36,000 tons (approximately 12 million gallons) of SAF from Neste for the supply across the airline’s route network in Europe and the U.K.

This cooperation ensures that Wizz Air can progress in accordance with its plan for the reduction of CO2 intensity per passenger kilometer.

“Today’s announcement builds on Wizz Air’s position as the most sustainable choice of air travel and is a key part of the airline’s environmental strategy to reduce carbon-emissions intensity by 25 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050,” the airline stated.

In 2022, Wizz Air achieved its lowest-ever annual carbon intensity, which amounted to 55.2 grams per passenger kilometer.

The airline has been continuously adding new Airbus A321neo aircraft to its fleet and replacing older aircraft, with the share of new “neo” technology aircraft within Wizz Air’s fleet planned to surpass 50 percent by the end of the 2023 financial year.

The new Airbus A321neo aircraft incorporates the latest technology, offering significant environmental benefits and can currently fly with up to 50 percent SAF blend.

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced, 100 percent renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel before use and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines.

SAF delivers the performance of conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint on a lifecycle basis.

Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s lifecycle compared to using fossil jet fuel.

“Wizz Air continues to invest in innovative technology and believes that SAF is a key part of the solution for the decarbonization of the aviation industry,” said Ian Malin, executive vice president and group chief financial officer at Wizz Air. “This partnership with Neste, the world's leading producer of SAF, reaffirms our commitment to reducing our carbon-emissions intensity, which is already one of the lowest among airlines in the world. Working together with Neste, we will drive the adoption of SAF throughout our network, paving the way to a more sustainable future for aviation.”

Jonathan Wood, Neste’s vice president of renewable aviation in Europe, added, “Neste is committed to helping the aviation industry move towards a more sustainable future. This agreement with Wizz Air, one of the industry’s sustainability leaders, shows how we are enabling airlines to use SAF across their route networks. We look forward to working together with Wizz Air on the reduction of their carbon emissions, as we increase our annual SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons by the end of 2023.”