PARIS, FRANCE: Airbus and TotalEnergies have announced a strategic partnership to develop and supply sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) for the aviation industry. The partnership aims to help achieve net carbon neutrality of aviation by 2050, by reducing CO2 emissions up to 90% compared to fossil fuels, a financial news announcement noted.

The partnership will focus on two main aspects: supplying SAF for more than half of Airbus’ needs in Europe, and researching and innovating 100% sustainable fuels for current and future aircraft. The partnership will also study the impact of SAF on non-CO2 effects, such as contrails.

Airbus and TotalEnergies have been collaborating on SAF since 2016, and have achieved several milestones, such as the first long-haul flight, the first helicopter flight, and the first A321neo flight using 100% SAF.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said: “The development of sustainable aviation fuels is at the heart of our Company’s transition strategy. We are happy to form a strategic alliance with Airbus to play our part in meeting the challenge of aviation decarbonization together. TotalEnergies has been working hard to respond to the sector’s new demand for a reduced carbon footprint. Our Company has set itself a target of 1.5 million tons of annual SAF production by 2030.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, said: “Accelerating the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels is essential if we are to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions from aviation by 2030. This partnership between Airbus and TotalEnergies demonstrates the willingness of aerospace manufacturers and major energy producers and suppliers to work together to meet this challenge. We are determined to meet our decarbonization targets and ensure that aviation can continue to play its valuable role for society in the future.”