Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 9, 2022

Virgin Atlantic Agrees to SAF Supply

Virgin Atlantic Limited and Neste Oyi announced the UK supply of 2.5 million litres/2,000 metric tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which will be delivered in the first half of 2022 to London Heathrow. The supply is a step towards the airline’s target of 10% SAF by 2030. 

The agreement forms part of a wider collaboration between Virgin Atlantic, a long-haul airline and Neste, a provider of SAF, to increase the availability and use of SAF in the UK.

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ is made from sustainably sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials. In its neat form, it can reduce GHG emissions by up to 80% of life cycle, compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.

Virgin Atlantic and Neste are supported by ExxonMobil’s expertise in the supply and distribution of jet fuel to manage this delivery of SAF into the UK. ExxonMobil is Virgin Atlantic’s largest fuel supplier at London Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic has committed to achieving net zero by 2050 and 100% of its fleet is twin engine and 70% next generation, making it one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the skies. This follows a multi-billion-dollar fleet renewal program that has already delivered a 20% reduction in carbon emissions between 2007 and 2019.

The agreement with Neste represents the first commercial supply of SAF for Virgin Atlantic, following its long-standing commitment to SAF and operation of the first commercial aircraft using sustainable fuels in 2008.

“After fleet renewal, SAF represents the greatest opportunity to decarbonise aviation in the short to medium term,” Holly Boyd-Boland, VP Corporate Development, Virgin Atlantic said in a statement. “This supply is the beginning of commercial SAF at scale for Virgin Atlantic and whilst only enough to operate 140 flights between London and New York, it’s a starting point. To meet our 10% SAF target in 2030 we need to deliver this volume more than 70  times over, requiring cross industry and Government action to support commercialisation of SAF at scale, particularly in the UK.”

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