The airline operates the Barcelona-Lyon route with an aircraft that uses 50% sustainable fuel, avoiding the emission of 8.5 tons of carbon dioxide
Airlines are positioning themselves in the race for sustainability. This Tuesday, it was Vueling’s turn, which managed to reduce 72% of the emissions of the Barcelona-Lyon flight thanks to the use of sustainable fuel (SAF) and with an optimized flight plan that reduced the distance between the two cities by 16% .
Franc Sanmartí, Director of Sustainability at Vueling, explains to this newspaper that the 72% reduction in CO2 emissions consists of three axes. On the one hand, 42% less pollution thanks to the use of SAF, but also 18% due to the efficiency of the new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft itself and 11% due to the efficiency of the flight plan with a shorter route.
“It’s like traveling in 2035,” said Sanmartí, who asked for more government support to expand these types of “sustainable” flights beyond demonstrations, as the SAF is three to five times more expensive than traditional fuel. “The more that is produced, the more the price will fall,” explains the Vueling manager.
This flight, which is part of the European ‘Connecting Europe Days’ mobility event to be held this Tuesday in Lyon, used 50% of the SAF fuel, avoiding the release of 8.5 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The biofuel is produced by Repsol from biomass as feedstock at its industrial complex in Tarragona. On the way back from Lyon to Barcelona, Vueling loaded the plane with fuel produced by Total from used oils.
“Using these fuels can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional fuel and it is one of the main alternatives to decarbonise the aviation sector,” they explain from the airline.
The IAG group, to which Vueling belongs, has committed to making 10% of its fuel sustainable by 2030, well above the targets set by the European Commission, which sets it at 2% for aviation as a whole.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
