Wizz Air tests alternative fuels

Written by Christina Vontin

Wizz Air and Airbus launch joint tests with sustainable aviation fuel on selected European routes.

The alternative fuel SAF is made from various raw materials such as used cooking oil and, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65% compared to conventional aviation fuel. The tests with Wizz Air are being carried out on the Barcelona-Budapest and Brussels-Budapest routes. The Spanish energy company Cepsa is supplying the fuel, which will be distributed by World Fuel Services to the airports concerned by the end of the year.

This cross-industry co-operation demonstrates the aviation community’s commitment to reducing its emissions intensity, said Wizz Air Director Yvonne Moynihan. The company has set itself the goal of operating a tenth of its flights with SAF by 2030. Airbus stated that in the aviation industry, fuel-efficient aircraft and SAF will make up the largest part of the emission reductions it wants to achieve by 2050.

Adapting to the new RefuelEU requirements for aviation is an important milestone in expanding the availability of sustainable fuels, emphasised Duncan Storey, Vice President of World Fuel. The RefuelEU regulation, which will apply from 2025, is intended to ensure that sustainable fuel is always available at all airports in the EU and that its use as a blend with conventional fuel is steadily increasing.