Wizz Air and Cepsa Join Forces to Accelerate Decarbonization of Aviation with SAF
Wizz Air has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cepsa, a leading international company committed to sustainable mobility and energy, for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2025. The MoU gives Wizz Air the opportunity to purchase SAF from Cepsa to supply the airline’s route network across Spain.
Cepsa’s SAF will be produced from organic waste, such as used cooking oils or agricultural waste, among others. These biofuels promote the circular economy by being produced from waste that would otherwise end up in landfills and will make it possible to reduce aircraft emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional kerosene.
The partnership follows an initiative that was run at Seville Airport in November 2022, when Wizz Air was among the airlines operating around 220 flights from the airport over one week using SAF produced by Cepsa at its La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva. This was the first time that the supply of SAF at this magnitude has been seen at an airport in southern Europe. It was also the first time in Spain that the entire value chain was certified traceable by the ISCC (International Sustainability Carbon Certification) system from the production of the sustainable fuel to the actual supply.
Wizz Air has established its SAF strategy, which includes securing offtake agreements with suppliers for the future to reduce carbon emissions per passenger/km by 25 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. In 2022, the airline achieved its lowest ever annual carbon intensity, which amounted to 55.2 grams, 15 percent lower than in 2021. Wizz Air has been continuously adding new Airbus A321neo aircraft to its fleet and replacing older aircraft, with the share of new “neo” technology aircraft already surpassing 50 percent of Wizz Air’s fleet. The new Airbus A321neo aircraft incorporates the latest technology, offering significant environmental benefits and can currently fly with up to 50 percent SAF blend. In addition to its ambitious fleet renewal program, Wizz Air is constantly working on fuel efficiency initiatives and improving the related data analytics.
As one of the main producers and suppliers of aviation fuels in the Spanish market, this new agreement consolidates Cepsa’s aim to become a leader in the clean energy sector and to spearhead the decarbonization of air transport. As part of its new strategic plan, Positive Motion, Cepsa is developing an ecosystem focused on accelerating the decarbonization of industrial customers and air and maritime transport, as well as the company itself, through the production of green molecules, mainly renewable hydrogen and biofuels. Cepsa aspires to be the leading biofuel producer in Spain and Portugal by 2030 with a production capacity of 2.5 million tons annually, with a particular focus on the sustainability of air traffic by having an annual production capacity of 800,000 tonnes of SAF.
Wizz Air currently operates flights from Europe and beyond to Alicante, Barcelona El Prat, Bilbao, Castellon (Valencia), Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), Ibiza, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santander, Seville, Tenerife (Canary Islands), Valencia and Zaragoza.
Ian Malin, executive vice president and group chief financial officer at Wizz Air, said: “We are excited to partner with Cepsa, a renowned energy company, to establish a SAF supply chain for Wizz Air in Spain. In addition to flying the world’s most sustainable fleet, we are making biofuel a key element to maintaining our leadership in sustainability and exceeding our commitment to reduce carbon intensity by 25 percent by 2030.”
Tobi Pardo, Cepsa’s director of aviation, said: "At Cepsa we are committed to creating solutions that make air transport more sustainable and partnerships like the one with Wizz Air to develop SAF are absolutely fundamental in our joint decarbonization journey with our clients.”
