VINCI Airports launches sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Budapest airport
Company | Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport |
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Date | 28.01.2025 |
Budapest airport, part of the VINCI Airports network since June 2024, has successfully passed the audit criteria for the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through its subsidiary, Airport Fuel Supply Ltd. This achievement addresses one of today’s biggest current challenge for airports operators: combining the increase of air mobility demand with the need to protect the climate. In addition to all actions implemented to reduce direct airports emissions (such as energy efficiency, electrification of vehicles, development of renewables, and so on), in the short to medium term, the introduction and wider use of SAF is currently one of the solutions to act on airport scope 3 by reducing aircraft emissions.
Budapest Airport is testing the commercial use of SAF since 2023, in cooperation with the MOL, Wizz Air and AFS Ltd. airlines, with the aim of meet a stringent set of sustainability criteria. Budapest Airport’s subsidiary, AFS Ltd. successfully passed last November, and thus acquired the required ISCC EU certification. This certification is a prerequisite for the airport operator to provide airlines with the minimum 2% sustainable aviation fuel from 1 January 2025, as required by the relevant regulation.
The raw materials used in the production of SAF include vegetable or animal fats, that cannot be recycled elsewhere, which are converted into a premium-quality renewable product through special processes, thus reducing the greenhouse gases emitted by aircraft. This new generation of sustainably produced fuel, in its pure form, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle, compared to fossil jet fuel. SAF is currently permitted to be blended with conventional fossil-based kerosene of up to 50%, to ensure compatibility with aircraft, engines and fuelling systems. SAF is also compatible with existing airport infrastructure, minimizing additional investments.
“Sustainable aviation fuel emits about 80% less carbon dioxide compared to conventional kerosene and can therefore make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. The availability of sustainable aviation fuel at Budapest Airport is a very important milestone and will greatly contribute to the future reduction of Budapest Airport’s indirect carbon emissions from its corporate value chain activities.” emphasized Francois Berisot, the CEO of Budapest Airport.
In addition to reducing indirect emissions, and in line with VINCI Airport’s environmental policy, Budapest Airport’s priority is to reduce by over 90% its carbon dioxide emissions from direct airport operations by 2030 at the latest, and achieve the Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5 of the Airports Council International (ACI Europe), which certifies that an airport has reached and maintains a Net Zero carbon balance on its direct scopes (Scopes 1 and 2), and has addressed indirect emissions sources (Scope 3).
Anticipating the European ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which requires the progressive use of SAF, VINCI Airports was a pioneer in the distribution of SAF in France and Europe from 2021, and today offers them in its platforms in Toulon, Saint Nazaire, Clermont-Ferrand airports in France, London Gatwick in the UK and now Budapest.