Sustainable Aviation
Airbus Presents Multi-Lever Strategy for Aviation Emissions at Dubai Airshow
Airbus demonstrates a combined approach using fleet renewal, SAF, Book and Claim, and carbon removals to reduce aviation emissions by 2050.
A Multi-Pronged Approach to Aviation’s Green Future
The global aviation industry is at a critical juncture. With a firm commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the pressure is on for industry leaders to move beyond ambition and demonstrate tangible progress. The Dubai Airshow 2025, themed “The Future is Here,” serves as a pivotal stage for this showcase, emphasizing sustainability and collaborative solutions. In this high-stakes environment, simply talking about future technologies is no longer enough; the industry and the public demand practical, scalable solutions that can be implemented today while paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow.
Stepping up to this challenge, Airbus is using the event to demonstrate a clear and pragmatic decarbonization strategy. The core of their message is that there is no single “silver bullet” solution. Instead, a multi-layered approach combining several complementary levers is essential to bridge the emissions gap. To bring this concept to life, Airbus orchestrated a single flight of an A350-1000 from Toulouse, France, to Dubai, integrating four key decarbonization strategies: fleet renewal, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a “Book and Claim” system for SAF, and the use of Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) to address residual emissions.
This demonstration is more than a symbolic gesture; it’s a real-world application of a comprehensive roadmap. It highlights how different technologies and methodologies can work in concert to systematically reduce the carbon footprint of a flight. By showcasing these levers together, Airbus aims to illustrate a viable pathway for the entire industry, emphasizing that progress depends on a portfolio of solutions, each playing a distinct but crucial role in the journey toward sustainable aviation.
Immediate Impact: Modernizing Fleets and Fuel
The most immediate and foundational steps toward decarbonization involve the aircraft themselves and the fuel that powers them. These are not futuristic concepts but available, impactful measures that can yield significant emissions reductions in the near term. Airbus’s strategy heavily emphasizes the combined power of replacing older aircraft with modern, efficient models and accelerating the adoption of sustainable fuels.
Fleet Renewal: The Foundation of Efficiency
The simplest way to reduce fuel burn is to fly more efficient aircraft. Modern planes, like the Airbus A350-1000 showcased on the flight to Dubai, consume approximately 25% less fuel and produce correspondingly fewer CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation of aircraft. This leap in efficiency is a cornerstone of the industry’s short-term climate goals. While effective, the pace of fleet renewal presents a significant challenge, as it requires substantial investment and time.
Currently, only about 30% of the world’s in-service fleet consists of the latest-generation aircraft. However, the demand for these new models is robust, driven by both environmental pressures and economic sense, as lower fuel consumption translates directly to reduced operating costs. Airbus’s 2025 Global Market Forecast projects that the global fleet will nearly double by 2044, with a significant portion of new deliveries, around 44%, intended to replace older, less efficient planes. This is reflected in strong market performance, with single-aisle aircraft like the A220 and A320neo families dominating orders.
The strong demand is evident in Airbus’s order books. In 2024 alone, the company delivered 766 commercial aircraft and maintained a year-end backlog of 8,658 aircraft. This signals a clear industry trend toward modernization, making fleet renewal a powerful and ongoing lever for decarbonization.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): The Cornerstone of Decarbonization
While efficient aircraft reduce the amount of fuel needed, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) addresses the carbon footprint of the fuel itself. Considered the most critical lever for decarbonization, SAF has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) estimates that SAF could account for between 53% and 71% of the emissions reductions required to reach the 2050 net-zero target.
Airbus is actively working to accelerate the adoption of SAF across the industry. All its current aircraft are certified to fly with a 50% SAF blend, and the company is committed to achieving 100% SAF capability by 2030. The demonstration flight to the Dubai Airshow utilized a 35% blend of physical SAF, showcasing its viability in regular operations. To further this goal, Airbus has made strategic investments in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance (SAFFA) and SAF producer LanzaJet.
Collaboration is key to scaling up SAF production and use. Airbus has established numerous partnerships to advance this goal, including trials with airlines like easyJet and WizzAir, a long-standing supply relationship with TotalEnergies, and a research agreement with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in India to explore producing SAF from municipal solid waste. These initiatives are crucial for building a global SAF ecosystem.
Beyond the Aircraft: Innovative Systems for a Greener Sky
Tackling aviation’s carbon footprint requires looking beyond the physical aircraft and its fuel. Airbus is also championing innovative logistical and technological systems designed to accelerate SAF adoption and address the emissions that cannot be eliminated through other means. These forward-thinking mechanisms are crucial for closing the final gaps on the path to net-zero.
Book and Claim: Unlocking SAF Accessibility
One of the major hurdles to widespread SAF adoption is logistics. SAF is currently produced in limited quantities at specific locations, making it expensive and difficult for many airlines to access directly. The “Book and Claim” (B&C) system offers a pragmatic solution to this problem. It works by decoupling the environmental benefits of SAF from its physical use. An airline can purchase a specific quantity of SAF, “claim” the associated carbon reduction credits, and have the physical fuel dispensed to an aircraft at an airport where it is readily available, even if it’s not their own.
This system effectively creates a global market for SAF’s environmental attributes, channeling investment toward producers and scaling up supply without being constrained by physical supply chains. Airbus has launched a pilot program for a B&C system, acting as a facilitator by purchasing SAF certificates and managing them through the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) registry. Key partners in this initiative include SMBC Aviation Capital, AerCap, and Luxaviation, among others.
A critical next step is gaining regulatory acceptance. Airbus is actively advocating for the recognition of the Book and Claim system within major regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Official recognition would significantly accelerate SAF adoption globally.
“Supporting the SAF Book and Claim mechanism is an immediate solution contributing to the emergence and scale-up of the global SAF market.” – Julien Manhes, Head of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Carbon Dioxide Removal at Airbus.
Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR): Tackling Residual Emissions
Even with maximum fleet renewal and 100% SAF usage, the industry anticipates some residual emissions will remain. To achieve true net-zero, these emissions must be removed from the atmosphere. This is where Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies come in. For its Dubai Airshow flight, Airbus neutralized the remaining emissions by purchasing CDR units generated from reforestation projects in Mexico.
Looking toward more permanent, technology-based solutions, Airbus is focusing on Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS). This technology uses large-scale facilities to filter CO2 directly from the ambient air, which is then permanently stored in deep underground geological reservoirs. It is a durable and verifiable method for removing carbon that has already been emitted.
To advance this technology, Airbus has formed a landmark partnership with 1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum. Through this agreement, Airbus has pre-purchased 400,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits to be delivered over a four-year period from 1PointFive’s large-scale DACCS plant currently under development in Texas. This pre-purchase provides a crucial demand signal, helping to finance and scale this nascent but vital technology.
This initiative has already garnered significant interest from major airlines. Air Canada, Air France-KLM, International Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group, and Virgin Atlantic have all signed letters of intent with Airbus to explore the pre-purchase of these carbon removal credits, demonstrating a collective industry commitment to addressing the full lifecycle of emissions.
A Multi-Faceted Path to Net-Zero
The demonstration at the Dubai Airshow makes one thing abundantly clear: the journey to decarbonizing aviation is not a linear path but a complex puzzle requiring multiple, interlocking pieces. Airbus’s showcase of four distinct levers, fleet renewal, SAF, Book and Claim, and Carbon Dioxide Removals, underscores the necessity of a pragmatic and diversified strategy. It moves the conversation from a search for a single magic bullet to the implementation of a portfolio of solutions that can deliver results both today and in the decades to come.
Ultimately, achieving the industry’s ambitious 2050 goals will depend on unprecedented collaboration. As shown by Airbus’s extensive network of partners, from airlines and fuel producers to technology startups and investment firms, no single entity can solve this challenge alone. The path forward requires a combination of continued technological innovation, sound economic models that incentivize green investments, and supportive regulatory frameworks that can accelerate the adoption of new solutions. The flight to Dubai is not an endpoint but a milestone, marking a tangible step forward on a long but necessary journey.
FAQ
Question: What is Airbus’s main message about decarbonizing aviation?
Answer: Airbus’s core message is that there is no single solution to decarbonize aviation. A multi-layered approach is necessary, combining several complementary levers such as fleet renewal, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), innovative systems like “Book and Claim,” and Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) to address all aspects of the industry’s carbon footprint.
Question: What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
Answer: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a biofuel used to power aircraft that has a smaller carbon footprint than conventional jet fuel. It is produced from sustainable resources like used cooking oil, municipal waste, or non-food crops. It is considered the most critical element for reducing aviation’s emissions in the medium term.
Question: How does the “Book and Claim” system work?
Answer: The “Book and Claim” system allows an airline or company to purchase the environmental benefits of SAF without being physically connected to the supply. They can “book” a quantity of SAF, and “claim” the carbon reduction credits, while the physical fuel is used by an aircraft at an airport where SAF is available. This overcomes logistical barriers and helps scale up the global SAF market.
Sources
Airbus – Showcasing multiple decarbonisation levers at Dubai Airshow
Photo Credit: Airbus
Sustainable Aviation
Airbus Safran Technip Tereos Launch SAF Joint Venture France
Four European firms form Rebound JV to produce 160,000 tons of SAF annually at Dunkirk using Alcohol-to-Jet technology.
Four major European aerospace and energy companies announced an agreement on June 9, 2026, to establish a joint venture aimed at producing 160,000 tons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) annually in Northern France. The partnership between Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran, and Tereos will create a new entity named Rebound, focusing on the Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) production pathway at the Port of Dunkirk.
According to a press release issued by Airbus, the initiative is designed to secure localized production of advanced ethanol from agricultural and forestry residues. The facility aims to address the European Union (EU) ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which mandates a 6 percent SAF blending target by 2030 and a 70 percent target by 2050.
Scaling Alcohol-to-Jet technology
The Rebound facility is projected to be one of the largest SAF plants in Europe, targeting an annual output of 160,000 tons. The project covers the entire value chain, from securing agricultural feedstock to delivering the final aviation fuel to operators. The joint venture is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Technip Energies Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Benjamin Lechuga described the AtJ pathway as a credible and scalable route to decarbonize the aviation sector. Tereos Chief Strategy Officer Jérôme Bos noted that the project aligns with efforts to create low-carbon industrial value chains utilizing agricultural production.
Regulatory mandates and European energy sovereignty
The regulatory framework established by the EU is expected to drive an eightfold increase in SAF demand between 2030 and 2050. In response to these requirements and global headwinds facing renewable energy, the Rebound joint venture is explicitly framed around strengthening European energy supply security and sovereignty.
“The Rebound project is a vote of confidence in SAF and in Europe’s ability to be a leader in the journey to decarbonise aviation,” stated Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications at Airbus.
Safran Chief Sustainability Officer Nathalie Stubler added that developing SAF at scale is essential for the industry and that the project brings together necessary French and European expertise to support a competitive domestic fuel market.
AirPro News analysis
We view the formation of the Rebound joint venture as a direct industrial response to the aggressive timelines set by the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate. While aerospace manufacturers like Airbus and Safran do not traditionally produce fuel, their direct investment in the Rebound project highlights the critical bottleneck that SAF supply presents to their long-term decarbonization commitments. By partnering with energy and agricultural specialists like Technip Energies and Tereos, the aerospace sector is attempting to vertically integrate the SAF supply chain to ensure the 2030 and 2050 blending targets remain viable. The choice of the Alcohol-to-Jet pathway also indicates a strategic pivot toward mature, scalable technologies that can utilize existing European agricultural infrastructure without waiting for next-generation synthetic fuel pathways to mature.
Sources: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus
Sustainable Aviation
KLM Cityhopper Flies Hamburg on 5% Synthetic Kerosene Blend
KLM Cityhopper completed a commercial e-SAF flight to Hamburg on June 8, 2026, highlighting supply and cost barriers ahead of EU mandates.
KLM Cityhopper operated the first commercial passenger flight to Germany utilizing a 5 percent blend of synthetic kerosene on June 8, 2026, demonstrating the technical viability of power-to-liquid fuels while exposing severe supply constraints ahead of upcoming European mandates.
The flight traveled from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to Hamburg Airport (HAM). According to a press release issued by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the operation was a collaborative effort involving synthetic fuel producer INERATEC, blending partner MB Energy, and the destination Airports.
Advancing power-to-liquid aviation fuels
The aircraft was refueled at Schiphol with 200 liters of synthetic kerosene, commonly referred to as e-SAF. This volume constituted a 5 percent blend with conventional fossil kerosene. INERATEC manufactured the synthetic fuel, while MB Energy managed the blending process prior to refueling.
Synthetic kerosene offers a potential lifecycle emissions reduction of more than 90 percent compared to traditional fossil fuels. The power-to-liquid process utilizes renewable electricity to combine hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide into a drop-in aviation fuel.
INERATEC Co-founder and CEO Tim Boeltken emphasized the immediate readiness of the technology following the successful operation.
“We are ready to deliver. Today’s flight, with our Chief Commercial Officer Maximilian Backhaus on board during a regular passenger service, clearly shows that power-to-liquid fuels are safe, available, and already operationally viable today. This is just the beginning of many applications we will see this year across various sectors,” Boeltken stated.
Scaling challenges and European mandates
While the Hamburg flight proved the operational concept, KLM used the milestone to highlight the stark economic and logistical hurdles facing the industry. The European Union has established a sub-target mandate requiring a 1.2 percent e-SAF blend across the aviation sector by 2030.
Currently, synthetic kerosene production remains highly constrained. The financial barriers are equally significant. KLM reported that e-SAF currently costs four times as much as standard Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and eight times as much as conventional fossil kerosene.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines CEO Marjan Rintel, who also chairs Project SkyPower, noted the discrepancy between regulatory goals and industrial reality.
“As CEO of KLM and chair of Project SkyPower, I believe e-SAF can make a real difference in making aviation more sustainable. KLM already pioneered a passenger flight on e-SAF in 2021, from Amsterdam to Madrid. Today’s flight to Hamburg once again shows that flying on synthetic kerosene is technically possible. But the reality is that the availability of e-SAF lags far behind ambition,” Rintel said.
AirPro News analysis
The most telling metric from the June 8 operation is not the successful flight itself, but the volume of synthetic fuel utilized. In 2021, KLM pioneered its first commercial e-SAF flight from Amsterdam to Madrid using 500 liters of synthetic kerosene. Five years later, the Hamburg flight utilized only 200 liters.
This 60 percent reduction in available test volume over a half-decade underscores the severe scalability crisis facing power-to-liquid fuels. We view the 2030 European Union mandate of a 1.2 percent e-SAF blend as highly vulnerable to supply chain realities. If a major flag carrier like KLM is explicitly highlighting the fact that current production is only a fraction of what is required, regulators may eventually be forced to reevaluate the timeline or heavily subsidize production to bridge the eight-fold cost gap with fossil fuels.
Sources: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Photo Credit: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Sustainable Aviation
American Airlines and Google Sign 35M-Gallon SAF Deal
American Airlines and Google agree to purchase 35 million gallons of SAF certificates, cutting nearly 300,000 metric tons of CO2e.
American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and Google have signed an agreement to purchase 35 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel certificates over the next three years, marking the largest publicly announced transaction of its kind between an Airlines and a single corporate customer.
Announced on June 9, 2026, the partnership will facilitate the delivery of physical sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) via Valero Marketing and Supply Company. The agreement is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), allowing Google to offset the environmental impact of its employee business travel.
Scaling sustainable aviation fuel
The sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) model allows corporate customers to claim the environmental benefits of the fuel even if they do not physically consume it on their specific flights. Google will utilize the SAFc Registry to apply these emissions reductions against its corporate travel footprint.
“This strategic collaboration with American Airlines demonstrates how companies can work together to scale critical sustainability technologies. By entering into this long-term commitment, we are sending a vital demand signal to catalyze investment and bring more SAF to market,” said Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google.
American Airlines stated the agreement is a critical step in reducing operational emissions and growing market demand for SAF. According to the airline, the aviation industry currently accounts for 2 to 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Google noted that SAF has the potential to reduce air travel emissions by up to 80 percent compared to traditional jet fuel.
Legislative incentives and prior collaborations
The transaction was facilitated by a recently enacted sustainable aviation fuel tax credit passed by the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation is designed to incentivize the delivery and utilization of SAF within the state.
“This agreement demonstrates how our nation-leading SAF tax credit can bring industry leaders together as we work toward a more sustainable future. Through partnerships with innovators like American Airlines and Google, we’re strengthening Illinois’ role as a global aviation hub and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
This SAFc agreement follows a 16-week pilot program conducted by American Airlines and Google in 2025. That initiative, which also included Flightkeys and Contrails.org, embedded contrail avoidance models into flight planning and reportedly achieved a 62 percent reduction in contrail formation.
AirPro News analysis
We view this 35-million-gallon agreement as a significant indicator of how corporate sustainability budgets are increasingly subsidizing the premium cost of SAF. While 35 million gallons over three years represents a fraction of American Airlines’ total annual fuel consumption, long-term offtake agreements are essential for producers like Valero to secure financing for expanded refining capacity. The use of the SAFc Registry also highlights the growing maturation of the book-and-claim model, which decouples the environmental attributes of SAF from the physical fuel, solving logistical bottlenecks at airports that lack the infrastructure to receive blended SAF directly.
Sources: American Airlines
Photo Credit: American Airlines
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