Another major European airline has adopted sustainable aviation fuel for its environmental work. In collaboration with Hellenic Petroleum, Greek flag carrier Aegean has begun fueling some of its flights out of Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (AIA) with SAF, supplied by leading producer Neste.The Athens addition follows the supply to Thessaloniki "Makedonia" Airport, which commenced in mid-July. Thus far, Aegean Airlines is the only carrier in Greece that has opted to use sustainable aviation fuel to power flights. The airline's Chairman, Efthichios Vassilakis, commented on the new agreement for AIA,

"We are very pleased that just one month after our agreement with HELLENIC PETROLEUM to lead the sustainable aviation fuel program in Greece, we are now able to power our fleet with SAF from Athens International Airport as well. This is a result of a joint effort, showcasing that the only way to achieve the goal for green and sustainable aviation is through cooperation, quick decision making and practical, innovative solutions. Even if such solutions is a first, small step in an ongoing effort that should be continued and intensified as we move forward to climate change.”

AIA not far from intensifying wildfires

Usually, announcements for SAF uptake agreements come with a specific sum of liters or gallons. Meanwhile, no exact amount for the fuel has been made public, so it is difficult to tell just how small a step it is from the Greek airline. But in the process of the oh-so-crucial stimulating of the production, every agreement indeed counts.

Meanwhile, Athens International Airport achieved carbon-neutral operations on its premises in 2017. The airport is separated from Athens by the mountain Hymettus (Ymittos, in Latinized Greek), and is situated in the Attica region, which has been plagued by fires in recent years as a result of climate change. In 2018, at least 74 people died as a result of wildfires less than a 30-minute drive from the airport, and flights were canceled or diverted due to heavy smoke.

AIA's Chief Executive Officer commented on this next step in the airport's sustainability journey,

"The first supply of Athens International Airport, which has already achieved a carbon neutral balance in its premises, with SAF, marks another important step in our overall commitment to address environmental challenges. Today’s supply with SAF is a result of the coordinated actions of all collaborating parties, the last months and demonstrates our commitment for sustainable aviation in Greece."

Petroleum company going green?

Meanwhile, Hellenic Petroleum, which will be supplying the Neste SAF via its subsidiary EKO, has set a strategic goal to become a provider of low-carbon energy solutions and to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030. The company's Chief Executive Officer stated,

"Within a month since the announcement of our intention to fuel AEGEAN fleet departing from Athens International Airport with SAF, we are able to do so today. Greece is now positioned in the map of green aviation, being represented twice in the list of only nine European airports where SAF are available. We express the will to be present in this new era, acknowledging that the challenges of the energy crisis are in fact accelerating developments in the EU for the energy transition and the shift to cleaner forms of energy”.

What do you think about Aegean's decision to begin using SAF? Let us know in the comments!