Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Option
How does your contribution help ? Air France is committed to increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as much as possible, starting today. With your help, we can increase the volume of SAF purchased and used on future flights. If you are a Flying Blue member, you can use your Miles to contribute to the purchase of SAF and earn additional XP.
Our answers to your questions
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a substitute for fossil kerosene and is key to the decarbonization of air transport. During a flight, SAF emits the same amount of CO₂ as kerosene. SAF has lower emissions due to its manufacturing process. It is made from non-fossil resources such as used oil or agricultural waste, and offers the same level of flight safety. SAF selected by Air France :
- meets the strict sustainability criteria set by the European Union, including for SAF purchased outside the European Union which is not subject to these regulations, and therefore does not compete with the human or animal food chains, and is also not produced with palm oil.
Compared to kerosene, SAF reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 75% over the entire life cycle (from manufacture to combustion).
As the cost of SAF is significantly higher than that of fossil kerosene, your contribution helps us invest even more in this type of fuel. Since 2022, French regulation has required that aviation fuel suppliers include a minimum SAF content (currently 1.5%) in their deliveries to French airports (subject to a SAF contribution that is already included in the price of Air France tickets departing from France). With your participation, via the Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Option, we will be able to increase the volume of SAF purchased and used. Every euro will be fully invested in the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel. Your contribution will be allocated to the purchase of SAF no later than twelve months after the date of your trip so that we can pool our customers' contributions. In 2023, thanks to your contributions, we were able to purchase 2,500 tons of SAF, which reduced CO2 emissions on our flights by 7,000 tons.
In addition to CO2 emissions, air transport can impact climate in other ways. The impact is still difficult to measure on a flight-by-flight basis. The white streaks seen in the wake of an aircraft, or condensation trails, made up of water vapor and soot, can contribute to climate disruption if they become persistent. Their warming effect is significant and of the same order of magnitude as CO2. Air France is mobilized with its scientific and industrial partners to implement solutions to reduce the formation of these persistent trails. According to several studies, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could significantly limit these effects.