Atlas Air and Inditex will use Repsol SAF on cargo flights

Atlas Air partner Repsol advocates switching from linear to circular economy to establish a more sustainable production and consumption model – chart: courtesy Repsol

The global multi-energy company, Repsol, has been contracted by Atlas Air and Inditex to supply SAF for their cargo flights operating out of Zaragoza Airport in Spain. This is particularly notable news since not only is Atlas Air the first cargo airline to regularly deploy SAF in its freight transport flights out of Spain, but also Repsol is starting up its first plant dedicated exclusively to the production of advanced biofuels – one of the first plants of its kind in Europe – at its industrial complex in Cartagena (Spain). It has invested over 200 million euros in the project and aims to eventually produce around 250,000 tons of SAF and renewable diesel per annum, using old cooking oil and agricultural waste. That represents a CO2 reduction of around 900,000 tons/year. While Repsol already began supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Atlas Air for use in all its Inditex flights since November (Atlas Air is initially incorporating 5% SAF in all its flights), the new plant is necessary to ensure adequate amounts of SAF in the coming years. “In 2022, total SAF production worldwide was 240,000 tons, according to the IATA. In 2025, approximately 120,000 tons will be needed in Spain to cover the 2% obligation of RefuelEU Aviation. Production of the new plant will be able to cover all the SAF demand in the Iberian Peninsula, complying with the obligation until the European mandate rises to 3%,” the release explains, point to that figure increasing to 6% in 2030 and 70% by 2050.

Óliver Fernández, Director of International Aviation at Repsol, commented: “With this agreement, we take another step in the decarbonization of aviation. We show that SAF is the future, but also the present. With the upcoming launch of our new advanced biofuels plant in Cartagena (Spain), we are ready to supply the sector with the SAF it needs to realize its decarbonization ambitions.”

Richard Broekman, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sustainability for Atlas Air Worldwide, said: “We are committed to contributing to the sustainability of the aviation sector and appreciate this opportunity to work with our valued partners at Inditex and Repsol. It is critical for our sector to work together in driving wider adoption and availability of SAF, which ultimately will have a positive impact on our industry and the environment.”

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