More sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a substitute for fossil-based kerosene. SAF offers the same level of safety as kerosene and can be blended with it without requiring modifications to aircraft or engines. SAF is produced from non-fossil resources such as used oils or agricultural waste.

SAF significantly reduces CO₂ emissions across its entire life cycle, from production to combustion, compared to traditional fossil-based kerosene. Although SAF releases the same amount of CO₂ as kerosene during flight, the overall reduction in emissions comes from how they are produced.

How do we measure the carbon footprint of SAF?

How does Air France select the SAF it purchases?

SAF produced and used in the European Union must meet the sustainability criteria set by European regulations, the most rigorous in the world. These regulations require that SAF production does not compete with food chains — either human or animal — and that they are not made from palm oil.

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Air France takes it one step further by applying these sustainability criteria to all the SAF it selects, including SAF outside of Europe, relying on certification from internationally recognized organizations such as ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) and the RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials).

European regulations also require a minimum 65% reduction in CO2 emissions over the SAF's life cycle compared to kerosene. To date, the SAF selected by Air France allows for a minimum 75% reduction in CO2 emissions over its entire life cycle compared to fossil-based kerosene.

SAF: a determining factor for the decarbonization of air travel

French regulations require fuel suppliers to include a minimum of SAF (currently 1.5%) in their deliveries to French airports. SAF is blended with kerosene, injected into the airport fuel supply systems, and used to power aircraft without distinction.

However, SAF production remains very limited, accounting for only 0.2% of global aviation fuel production in 2023. To encourage increased production, Air France is committed to using as much SAF as possible from today.

Is a SAF contribution included in your ticket?

Since 2022, a SAF contribution is included in the price of all tickets for flights departing from France (the amount of this fee is included in your ticket price breakdown, on the line "Contribution to Sustainable aviation fuel").

To go even further and purchase more SAF, Air France also offers customers the option to make a voluntary contribution during the booking process.

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Air France goals

We aim to incorporate at least 10% of SAF globally by 2030, far exceeding European regulations within this timeframe.

Given the still very limited production, Air France is working alongside its industrial partners to rapidly develop SAF production channels at French, European, and global scale.

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80,000 tons of SAF in 2023

In 2023, the AIR FRANCE KLM Group incorporated around 80,000 tonnes of SAF - almost double the volume incorporated in 2022 - making it the world's leading SAF user for the second year running.

Thank you for your commitment

Thanks to your contributions and those of our corporate clients, we used 36,618 tonnes of SAF in 2023 and avoided the emission of over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ through this lever alone.

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