Vueling has agreed a deal with Spanish energy company Cepsa to work together to develop and produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Barcelona-based Vueling’s parent company IAG, which also owns Iberia, British Airways and Aer Lingus, has vowed to operate 10 per cent of its flights using SAF by 2030.
The new partnership is also part of Cepsa’s objective to become a leading producer of SAF with plans to supply 800,000 tonnes of the fuel annually by 2030. Cepsa is one of Spain’s major suppliers of aviation fuel.
The agreement will see both companies prioritise the development of sustainable fuels to reduce carbon emissions. SAF is made from “circular” raw materials such as cooking oils, non-food animal waste and biodegradable waste. It can reduce aircraft emissions by up to 80 per cent.
Vueling’s CEO Marco Sansavini said: “This collaboration with Cepsa reinforces the collective work that we must all do to find a viable and sustainable solution for air transport, a key industry in a country where 80 per cent of tourists travel by plane.”
The partnership will also develop other alternative energies such as renewable hydrogen and the electrification of Vueling’s ground fleets including supply vehicles, baggage loading and aircraft assistance.
This deal is in line with the European Commission's Fit for 55 package, which aims to boost the supply and demand of aviation biofuels in the EU to 2 per cent use by 2025, 5 per cent by 2030 and 63 per cent by 2050.
Carlos Barrasa, Cepsa's director of commercial and clean energies, added: “Agreements like the one signed today with Vueling continue to reinforce our commitment to transforming the air transport model into a more sustainable alternative.”