SAS has been joined by KLM and Lufthansa in signing a purchase agreement with biofuel supplier Air BP. In doing so, these airlines are contributing to a demand that is necessary in order to encourage the production and delivery of this fuel, and they are helping to make bio jet fuel commercially viable. Biofuel is currently produced in small quantities and is more expensive than traditional fossil-based jet fuel; however, as demand increases, prices are expected to fall.
SAS has, through the continuous renewal of its aircraft fleet and extensive climate efficiency work, both in the air and on the ground, succeeded in reducing the airline’s total CO2 emissions by around 15% since 2005. Over the same period, production has increased significantly.
As well as investing in biofuel, SAS is also carrying out the continuous renewal of its aircraft fleet. SAS was the first airline in Scandinavia to have only “next generation” aircraft, from 2013, and the airline is now taking delivery of the most fuel-efficient aircraft for short haul and long haul, straight off the conveyor belt: Airbus 330 enhanced (from 2015); Airbus 320neo (from 2016); and later Airbus 350 extra wide body variants (from 2018).
All this said, achieving a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions from aviation still requires a greater commitment from the government if this initiative is to ultimately bear fruit.
