Vitol Aviation and Neste enable Heathrow to become first UK major airport to incorporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel into operation

For the first time, passengers from Heathrow will be able to reduce their flying emissions by up to 80%. Vitol Aviation, a fuel supplier at Heathrow, is making Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ available ahead of the G7 Summit to be held from 11 to 13 June 2021. Vitol Aviation intends to deliver further supplies ahead of COP26 to enable attendees to also transit to Glasgow with lower-emissions.

Vitol Aviation’s expertise in the specialist handling of jet fuel will be combined with Neste’s market-leading SAF production capabilities. Neste MY SAF is produced 100% from renewable and sustainable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, in its neat form and over the life cycle, reduces up to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel use¹.

The fuel will be incorporated into the airport’s main fuel supply from 3 June and will be blended to use across Heathrow flights over the following days. Whilst the fuel supply may be comparatively small – equivalent to fuelling up to 10 short haul flights – it serves as proof of concept for more flights to be operated using SAF at the UK’s hub airport going forward.

Leticia Hachuel, Vitol Aviation said: “Sustainability has always been important to us as a supplier, and to airlines and their passengers. We are delighted to be the first to deliver sustainable aviation fuel to Heathrow. Whilst this is proof of concept, it demonstrates how lower-emission options for flying are achievable. We are looking at how we can use our expertise to offer more sustainable options.”

Jonathan Wood, Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation at Neste said: “We are continuously supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are pleased that Vitol is enabling Neste MY SAF to be used at Heathrow, one of the leading global hub airports. We are also proud to play a role in lower-emission travel to the G7 conference, where sustainability will be one of the key topics.”

Heathrow Chief Executive Officer, John Holland-Kaye said: ““We are delighted that Heathrow is the first UK major airport to successfully incorporate sustainable aviation fuels into its operation. As we get ready to welcome the world to the G7, we can demonstrate how this technology can significantly cut carbon from aviation, whilst protecting its benefits. The UK Government now has an opportunity to create a new British growth industry by backing sustainable aviation fuel production and also be leaders in the race to a net zero 2050. Now is the time for less talk and more action and Ministers should set an escalating mandate to blend SAF into fuel and provide incentives that are stable over 5-10 years to foster investment in production, with a target of 10% by 2030 and at least 50% by 2050.”

¹Calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, among which EU RED and CORSIA.