• Wizz Air Getty Gdansk
    Wizz Air
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    W6/WZZ
    Airline Type:
    Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier
    Year Founded:
    2003
    CEO:
    József Váradi
    Country:
    Hungary

Wizz Air last week performed the first green demonstration flight. The European low-cost powerhouse operated a special route between Bucharest's Henri Coanda International Airport and Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.

A European mission

On June 28th, Flight W6 3061 took off from Bucharest at 12:35 EEST to land in Lyon at 13:59 CEST. Wizz Air highlights that this service was conducted in advance of the European Union's Connecting Europe Days 2022 sustainability conference in Lyon.

Registration HA-LVM
Registration HA-LVM conducted this short-haul flight. Photo: FlightRadar24.com

Formerly known as TEN-T Days, the conference seeks to bring politicians, industry representatives, and the European Commission together to converse about transport and mobility and their role in reaching targets placed in the likes of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was partially deployed on the Airbus A321neo flight. The carrier utilized a 4.5-tonne blend of 30% pure SAF and 70% Jet A1 fuel. Overall, the trip used a 14.2% blend of SAF, cutting carbon emissions by 12.8%.

Yet, Wizz notes that there was more to the flight than just the fuel used. On the approximately two-hour and 20-minute flight, those on board, including journalists and influencers, were told about the operator’s environmental initiatives. The captain of the flight also revealed information about the carrier’s fuel-saving programs.

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Part of the plan

Wizz Air Chief People and ESG Officer Johan Eidhagen shared the following about the company’s sustainability initiatives in a statement:

“Wizz Air is the fastest growing airline in Europe and has an ambitious growth strategy, with plans to expand our fleet and team of dedicated pilots and crew members. We strive to continue to deliver affordable travel for all, in the most sustainable way. We operated our first green demonstration flight from Bucharest to Lyon, in anticipation of the EU’s “Connecting Europe Days” sustainable mobility conference. This inaugural flight reflects our commitment to a greener future for the aviation sector. I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have been working hard to make Wizz Air one of Europe’s most sustainable airlines and all of the passengers that choose to fly the greenest each day!”

Notably, the Airbus A321neo is central to Wizz Air's sustainability strategy. The airline has a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 25% until 2030 compared to 2019 levels. With the A321neo saving up to 20% in fuel costs and reducing noise by around 50%, it's no surprise this aircraft is leading the front. There are additional benefits to be had. For instance, the model's airframe, equipment, and seats are all lighter.

wizz-air-receives-a321neo
The airline received its first A321neo in March 2019. Photo: Airbus

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On the right path

Earlier this year, we reported that Wizz Air claimed the crown as the most sustainable airline in Europe. Records include the lowest environmental footprint on the continent (per passenger kilometer) due to its young fleet of modern twinjets. All in all, according to independent ESG analyst Sustainalytics, Wizz scored a 25.0 ESG Risk Rating, the lowest among all operators based in Europe.

The airline will be keen to continue its sustainability journey. Initiatives such as the green demonstration flight are only the beginning of the long road ahead.

What are your thoughts about Wizz Air’s green demonstration flight? What do you make of the overall efforts in this field? Let us know what you think in the comment section.