As the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games swiftly approach, all eyes are on France. The country’s flag carrier is demonstrating its continued commitment to sustainability, matching its customers’ voluntary contributions to the purchase of SAF during the games.
Effective from yesterday, the airline announced that all bookings for travel between 18 July and 9 September 2024 to destinations in mainland France and French Polynesia will automatically contribute to this initiative. The airline explained that if a customer makes a contribution of €50 to the “Environmental-sustainable aviation fuels” option, it will match this, resulting in a total contribution of €100. All the funds raised are invested in the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
This latest policy sits within the airlines wider sustainability practices including the transition to latest gen aircraft with more efficient fuel consumption, eco-piloting, the development of intramodality, and the increased use of SAF.
Last year, for the second time running, the Air France-KLM Group was recognised as the world’s leading user of SAF. Air France currently uses 1 per cent SAF but is aiming to incorporate at least 10 per cent of SAF on its flights worldwide by 2030.
The importance of sustainability is widely recognised by passengers, with 90 per cent of travellers saying they are willing to pay more for sustainability in Roland Berger’s Future of Long-Distance Travel Report. However, airlines have reported a discrepancy between passenger words and actions.
Do you think many people will be willing to pay extra for a “more sustainable” flight?
For more like this see:
- Building a complete view on SAF and the decarbonisation of the industry with SkyNRG
- Carbon capture, direct air capture, and SAF
- Boeing and the US government collaborate to scale SAF among APEC member countries
