As of this week, all aircraft delivered from the Airbus final assembly line in Mobile will be fueled with a U.S.-sourced sustainable fuel blend.
The move is part of Airbus’ initiative to develop a “zero carbon-producing commercial aircraft by 2035.”
“Delivering every one of our Mobile-produced aircraft with SAF is an important, iterative step toward solving the carbon challenge,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas Inc.
Airbus began delivering aircraft with an SAF blend in November and has gradually expanded the practice. “Henceforth, every aircraft delivered from the Airbus US manufacturing site will have SAF on board,” the company says.
“SAF is a positive contributor to enhanced sustainability in aviation since it enables up to an 80% reduction of CO2 across the fuel lifecycle,” Knittel said. “We are committed to making sustainable aviation fuels an everyday reality with use on an increasingly larger scale, and this announcement is further evidence of that.”
To date, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Breeze Airways and Spirit Airlines have taken delivery of SAF-fueled craft. Other customers will be added to the list as they take deliveries.
“We have reached an agreement with Signature Flight Support to supply SAF to our Mobile facility,” said Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of the Mobile manufacturing site. “This initiative advances our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the aviation industry,” he said. Signature Flight Support is working in partnership with World Energy to provide the U.S.-sourced SAF to Airbus.
The Airbus FAL in Mobile crafts A220 and A320 family planes. It has delivered 284 aircraft since 2016.
