GERMANY

GERMANY -- Finland’s Neste has begun regular supplies of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Cologne Bonn airport. In a Jun. 25 statement, Neste said the first flight fueled with SAF was an Amazon cargo flight in early June operated by ASL Airlines (JFI Jul.27'20). Neste is working with into-wing service provider AFS at Cologne Bonn, Europe’s eighth busiest airport for cargo. “Employing SAF is another important step towards our long-term goal of CO2-neutral flight,” said the airport's President and CEO Johan Vanneste. "We are already using numerous technical innovations at Cologne Bonn Airport -- from solar panels and LED technology to innovative building services and alternatively powered vehicles and equipment on the apron," he added. “Despite the challenging business environment, the aviation industry, and the cargo sector in particular, is showing increased commitment to invest in sustainable aviation fuel in order to offer lower-carbon fuels to its customers,” said Neste Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation Jonathan Wood. “We are really pleased to welcome Cologne Bonn Airport to the growing network of airports with SAF availability,” he added. Neste SAF has 80% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel. Current production capacity is just 100,000 metric tons/yr in Finland but that is set to jump to 1.5 million tons/yr by 2023 after new plants come on line in Rotterdam and Singapore. Russia’s Rosneft has meanwhile just launched a new regular jet fuel into-plane fueling service at Germany’s Nuremberg airport. The firm already offers fuel at Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart airports in Germany.