Aeromexico, IATA and Boeing Promote the Use of SAF During the Summit of the Americas

8th June 2022

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) reduces up to 80% of CO2 emissions
  • The airline operated one more flight with SAF from Los Angeles to Mexico City
  • In 2010 Aeromexico was a pioneer in the use of SAF in Mexico

During the Summit of the Americas, Aeromexico joined the initiative led by Boeing and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to promote the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), as part of the global industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, of which Aeromexico is a part.

The airline acquired 6,500 liters of SAF to operate the AM647 flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City on June 5. The flight reduced almost 3.7 tons of CO2, equivalent to taking 500 cars off the road for a day.

It was the first time Aeromexico had used SAF on one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is one of the most eco-friendly aircraft as it reduces noise outside the cabin by up to 60% compared to other aircraft and CO2 emissions by up to 25%.

In 2010, Aeromexico was a pioneer in the use of SAF in Mexico and later became the first airline in Latin America to carry out long-haul flights with said fuel. The company is part of the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative to make 10% of the aviation fuel SAF by 2030.

In this framework, there were two roundtables to discuss the path that the industry must follow to reach the goal of net-zero emissions, and the relevance of creating public policies in the region that allow the effective commercialization and transition to the use of SAF.

SAF is a type of fuel made from non-edible plants, agricultural, forestry, municipal, or industrial plant waste, among other things. It reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% during its life cycle, so its use represents a more immediate possibility to diminish CO2 emissions. Other benefits are that it can be mixed with petroleum-based fuel without requiring any modifications to aircraft, engines, or fueling infrastructure.

In alliance with Boeing, seven airlines from around the world joined this initiative acquiring a total of 379 thousand liters of SAF for commercial flights that took off at Los Angeles Airport during the Summit, which reduced more than 214 tons of CO2, equivalent to nearly 29,500 cars being off the road for one day.