Air France announced Monday to increase the price of its tickets from 1 to 12 euros in order to offset part of the additional cost of using sustainable aviation fuel, which reduces CO2 emissions.
“A ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’ contribution will be included from January 10 in the ticket price: from 1 to 4 euros in the Economy cabin, from 1.50 to 12 euros in the Business cabin, depending on the distance”, says her in a message to her clients.
The other companies in the group, KLM and Transavia, are also affected by the measure, said Air France.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which are produced from waste oils or forestry and agricultural residues, reduce CO2 emissions, the main greenhouse gas, by 75% over their life cycle. compared to fossil aviation fuel.
Aviation kerosene currently accounts for between 20% and 30% of airline costs and SAFs are four to eight times more expensive. They are currently produced in quantities that are far too insufficient to meet the needs.
“The emergence of sectors for large-scale production, in France and in Europe, will make it possible to reduce these costs”, according to Air France. Like the rest of the aviation sector, the company must also rebuild its cash flow after the shock of Covid-19 which drowned it in debt.
1% sustainable fuel in aviation kerosene
Air France is also offering its passengers, from Thursday, to “voluntarily contribute to the purchase of additional sustainable aviation fuel” on its website to reduce the carbon footprint of their travels. “Every euro of voluntary contribution will be invested in the purchase of these fuels”, she assures.
On January 1, France introduced an obligation to incorporate 1% sustainable fuel in aviation kerosene and set up a roadmap to increase to 2% in 2025 then 5% in 2030. The European Commission, in as part of its new “Fit for 55” climate package, also proposes a gradual incorporation mandate, going from 2% in 2025 to 63% in 2050.
Global air transport, which contributes 2.5 to 3% of global emissions, has set itself the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. To do this, it is counting on the renewal of fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft, but most of the expected gains will come from the use of non-fossil fuels.
Sustainable fuels accounted for less than 0.1% of the 360 billion liters of fuel used by aviation in 2019.
