Airbus employees no longer need to feel guilty about contributing to global warming through their aircraft’s CO2 emissions on business trips – provided they fly Air France on clearly defined routes and have booked the new ‘SAF Bundles’ product. The initiative is based on an agreement between the aircraft manufacturer and the airline, enabling Airbus managers to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of their journey.
Even if the number of routes the scheme includes is currently very limited, the initiative is a starting signal and sets an example for other companies whose managers frequently need to take to the air for business purposes. The SAF Bundles product includes avoluntary contribution towards SAF and is directly embedded in the pax ticket. It is an option and not compulsory, Airbus and Air France unanimously stress. Precondition for the launch of the program was Airbus’ commitment to purchasing SAF options for its employees’ business trips by joining Air France-KLM’s “SAF Corporate” program, in this way facilitating the funding of SAF.
Will SAF Bundles become a trailblazer?
Sébastien Guyot, Executive Vice President Global Sales at Air France-KLM, stated: “Reducing our CO2 emissions is a priority for our Group. Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to achieving our ambitions, and the contribution of our corporate customers, like Airbus, is crucial.”
Raphaël Duflos, Vice President Corporate Services Procurement at Airbus, added: “We are proud to be pioneers in adopting the new ‘SAF Bundle’ offer following the rollout of the New Distribution Capability (NDC) with Air France. This demonstrates the importance of our strategic partnership with Air France on this key topic of decarbonizing business travel.”
Not all SAFs are the same
Air France emphasizes that the kind of SAF chosen provides at least a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions over the fuel’s full lifecycle compared to fossil fuel. The Group has also implemented a strict procurement policy, sourcing only SAF that does not compete with food production, does not contribute to deforestation, and is not derived from palm oil.
However, at least at the start of the program, the choice of flight routes remains very limited. It concerns connections between Airbus production sites such as Toulouse-Montreal or Hamburg-Shanghai, each with a transfer in Paris CDG.
Open Letter – EU policymakers are asked to secure SAF funding
On the occasion of the 55th Paris Air Show (16-22JUN25), companies from across the aviation industry and energy value chains have called on European national governments to commit funding for an e-SAF pilot auction via a double-sided auction mechanism to kickstart the e-SAF industry in Europe. The letter is signed by 40 parties – including Airbus, Boeing, Air France KLM, IAG, and DHL. Coordinator is Germany-based SkyPower, that launched an action plan to push the decarbonization of the aviation industry up front by scaling e-SAF production. Hugo Duchemin of Paris-registered agency Comworxx, a member of SkyPower, submitted the open letter to CargoForwarder Global. Excerpts of the document are published below:
Honorable Minister,
The EU has committed e-SAF production (sustainable aviation fuel produced from clean electricity) as a central lever for a lower emissions future, with ReFuelEU Aviation mandating increasing e-SAF blending from 2030 onwards. Amid Europe’s urgent pursuit of energy security, strengthening domestic industry against rising global competition, and fostering high-value job creation, e-SAF emerges as a strategic avenue for the EU to advance these objectives while securing global leadership in clean technology innovation.The 40+ signatories of this letter call on national governments to jointly commit funding to an e-SAF pilot tender, using a double-sided auction mechanism which could kickstart the market in time for the first e-SAF sub-mandate in 2030 and provide a cogent proof point for the EU. […] Funds committed by national governments would be disbursed from 2030 onwards, upon delivery of the first e-SAF volumes. Importantly, the tender can be structured to ensure that funding governments stand to benefit from accelerated access to e-SAF and from stimulation of domestic economies. This call for action should form part of a more comprehensive EU SAF strategy to deliver the ambitious ReFuelEU mandate for multiple SAF pathways (advanced biofuels and e-SAF) and ensure a competitive and sustainable European SAF industry. The commitment of funds to such a support mechanism would accelerate private sector action and investment towards scaling e-SAF production capacity to ensure funding countries can meet the sub mandates, as well as towards supporting Europe’s cleantech leadership on a global stage. The e-SAF ecosystem stands ready to grasp this rare opportunity to boost industrial competitiveness, energy resilience and clean transport […].
