Airbus and TotalEnergies partner on sustainable fuels to decarbonise aviation

Airbus is extending a long-running association with TotalEnergies to address the challenges of decarbonising the aviation sector with sustainable aviation fuels.

The partnership is focused on the key role of sustainable aviation fuels, with their potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% over their lifecycle compared to their fossil fuel equivalents.

In particular, the partnership is focussed on two main areas.

One is the supply by TotalEnergies of sustainable aviation fuels for more than half of Airbus’ needs in Europe.

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The other is a research and innovation programme aimed at developing 100% sustainable fuels tailored to the design of current and future aircraft as well as studying the impact of the composition of sustainable aviation fuels on the reduction of CO2 emissions and non-CO2 effects such as contrails.

“Accelerating the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels is essential if we are to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions from aviation by 2030,” says Airbus CEO, Guillaume Faury.

“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 decarbonisation targets and ensure that aviation can continue to play its valuable role for society in the future.”

TotalEnergies has been supplying sustainable aviation fuels to Airbus for its aircraft deliveries in Toulouse since 2016.

TotalEnergies also has supplied the fuel for several of the first sustainable aviation fuelled flights with Airbus aircraft.

These include the first long-haul flight with an A350 between Paris and Montreal in May 2021, the first flight of a H225 helicopter using 100% sustainable aviation fuel in November 2021 and the first A321neo flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel in March 2023.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, says the development of sustainable aviation fuels is at the heart of the company's transition strategy.

“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 1.5Mt of annual sustainable aviation fuel production by 2030.”

Sustainable aviation fuels are biofuels generally produced from municipal waste and residues such as animal fats and used cooking oils, but other feedstocks such as agriculture and forestry waste also is expected to form part of the production.

In 2023, Airbus reports having used more than 11Ml of sustainable aviation fuel in its operations – double the volume of 2022 and exceeding its initial 2023 target of 10% of the total fuel used across all divisions by more than 1Ml.

In line with other sectors, aviation has the objective of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050.