Manufacturing News 13/01/2025, 13:41

The first Vietnamese airline to use sustainable fuel on all flights from Europe

Vietnam Airlines became the first Vietnamese airline to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its flights from Europe on January 1, 2025.

The first Vietnamese airline to use sustainable fuel on all flights from Europe

According to Vietnam Airlines, all of its flights departing from European airports starting from January 1, 2025, will use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Specifically, these flights used SAF with a minimum ratio of 2%, gradually increasing to 6%, 20%, and 70% by the years 2030, 2035, and 2050, respectively.

For flights departing from the United Kingdom, Vietnam Airlines also use SAF with a minimum ratio of 2% starting in 2025, increasing to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040.

A representative from Vietnam Airlines stated that this marks a significant step in affirming the national airline's leadership role in the green transition and contributes to Vietnam's commitment, alongside the international community, to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This initiative will also provide passengers with a flying experience that not only ensures service quality but is especially environmentally friendly, thus helping to create a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.

Previously, Vietnam Airlines successfully completed a flight using SAF on flight VN660, from Singapore to Hanoi on May 27, 2024. As a result, Vietnam Airlines became the first airline in Vietnam to use sustainable fuel for commercial passenger flights.

In the context of current SAF prices being two to three times higher than traditional fossil fuels, and at times up to five to six times higher, it is estimated that the cost of operating flights to and from Europe for Vietnam Airlines will increase by approximately 4.8 million USD per year when using SAF.

In addition to the efforts to use SAF, Vietnam Airlines is actively implementing several other measures to reduce CO2 emissions, such as operating and utilizing a fleet of new-generation aircraft, enhancing fuel-saving operational solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, optimizing flight routes, schedules, and cargo weight to minimize fuel consumption, and ensuring that the IT system tracks fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with third-party verification for submission to authorities. In 2024, Vietnam Airlines is expected to reduce nearly 70,000 tons of CO2 through its fuel-saving measures.

The national airline has also been working hard to build an image of "green aviation" by implementing various community-oriented programs, such as participating in the "2024 Aviation Challenge" of the global airline alliance SkyTeam. Additionally, in support of the United Nations' "International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer," Vietnam Airlines is carrying out the "Contributing Leaves to Forests" project aimed at restoring forests along the corridor connecting the provinces of Son La and Hoa Binh—two important green lungs of Vietnam. The airline is also launching the "Light Flight to Con Dao" project to reduce CO2 emissions and raise awareness among younger generations about environmental protection.

These efforts demonstrate the airline's strong commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development, and fulfilling its social responsibility in accordance with the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. In the future, Vietnam Airlines will continue to collaborate with supply chain partners to expand the use of SAF and promote comprehensive sustainable development solutions, contributing to the creation of a carbon-free future.

Vneconomy/ Translator: Ngoc Mai
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