Strategic partnership to decarbonise air transport in Portugal signed today.

TAP, Galp and ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal signed a strategic partnership for the development, production and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF - Sustainable Aviation Fuel) on a large scale, from waste, recycled used oils and other sustainable raw materials.

A new era of aviation is thus inaugurated in Portugal with more sustainable fuels provided by Galp, in line with the European framework on mandatory incorporation of SAF in aviation. 

The first flight in Portugal fuelled with SAF made the Lisbon-Ponta Delgada connection in an Airbus 321neo, painted in TAP's retro colours and called "Portugal".

The fuel incorporated 39% material of renewable origin (HEFA), with less total emissions when compared to the fossil alternative. The reduction in emissions on this flight was 7.1 tonnes of CO2eq, which represents a 35% decrease in total CO2 emissions.

This partnership, formally signed at a ceremony attended by TAP CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener, Galp CEO Andy Brown and ANA CEO Thierry Ligonnière, is in line with the European Commission's Fit for 55 climate package, which includes the 'RefuelEU Aviation' legislative initiative aimed at increasing the supply and demand for SAF in the European Union and its use by 2% by 2025, 5% by 2030 and 63% by 2050.

TAP is a signatory to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) resolution that, in October 2021, committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. IATA thus welcomes this further important step that contributes to achieving the proposed targets.

ANA Aeroportos de Portugal implements, in its airports, the strategy for the global management of carbon in the aviation sector, aligned with the strategy for positive mobility of VINCI Airports that aims at the absolute reduction of emissions (scopes 1 and 2), the reduction of scope 3 emissions working together with its partners in order to achieve zero net emissions (NetZero) by 2030. This year, 9 of the 10 national airports have been awarded level 4 of ACA (Airport Carbon Accreditation).

In the first phase of the protocol, the SAF used on TAP flights is supplied by the leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, Neste. 

Sustainable jet fuel has the advantage of offering similar performance to traditional jet fuel and can be used in the same engines as fossil fuel, but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint, with a reduction in emissions of up to 80%. Neste's SAF fuel is produced from sustainably sourced raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat.

In addition to the decarbonization of air transport, other complementary benefits of SAF allow the circular economy to be boosted, increasing energy independence and security of supply, constituting a guarantee of the economy, ensuring the maintenance and creation of jobs. In addition, these fuels can be used immediately since the entire existing supply infrastructure is maintained and without the need to adapt the fleet.