Wizz Air and Neste have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) beginning in 2025. The agreement allows Wizz Air to purchase 36,000 tonnes of SAF from Neste each year for supply across the airline’s route network in Europe and the United Kingdom.
The announcement is an integral part of the airline’s environmental strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The company has been replacing older planes in its fleet with new Airbus A321neo planes, which can now fly with up to 50% SAF blend.
Neste’s “MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel” comprises renewable waste and residual raw materials such as used cooking oil. When used in its pure form, the fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when compared to the use of fossil jet fuel. The fuel can be used in existing aircraft engines and airport fuel infrastructure, so no new investment is required. Neste expects to reach 1.5 million tonnes of annual SAF production capacity by the end of next year.
Ian Malin, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer at Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air continues to invest in innovative technology and believes that SAF is a key part of the solution for the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. This partnership with Neste, the world’s leading producer of SAF, reaffirms our commitment to reducing our carbon emissions intensity, which is already one of the lowest among airlines in the world. Working together with Neste, we will drive the adoption of SAF throughout our network, paving the way to a more sustainable future for aviation.”
Jonathan Wood, Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation at Neste, said: “Neste is committed to helping the aviation industry move towards a more sustainable future. This agreement with Wizz Air, one of the industry’s sustainability leaders, shows how we are enabling airlines to use SAF across their route networks. We look forward to working together with Wizz Air on the reduction of their carbon emissions, as we increase our annual SAF production capacity to 1.5 million tons by the end of 2023.”