From today, all Victor members can purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for every flight following a partnership between the firm and SAF producer, Neste.
Although not every flight will be fuelled by SAF, for every flight where it is purchased Neste has pledged to deliver specific SAF volumes to partner aircraft operators. This means the benefits will stay in-sector.
Neste and Victor have collaborated before. In 2019, Neste partnered with Victor in its Sustainable Future for Aviation Strategy handbook. This latest partnership has been in discussion since April, 2022.
“At Victor we believe in a better way to fly,” Victor CEO, Toby Edwards told CJI. “We cannot ignore the fact that a private jet emits at least 10-15 times more CO2 per passenger mile than a commercial airliner.
“Until now, as SAF has only been available at a few airports or via purchasing SAF credits. There hasn’t been a credible SAF solution for the on-demand jet charter business sector that is aligned with science-based targets and the ability to reach Net Zero by 2050,” he said.
The partnership allows SAF demand to scale because it is not limiting purchase to specific airports. “After launching we will monitor how the partnership goes. Of course, should it be a success we will share and encourage the blueprint with other business aviation companies to help them offer SAF at scale,” said Edwards.
Neste MY SAF will be available at check-out on every booking. It is what Edwards calls a “pay here, use there” solution. He also stresses the need to be transparent about where the SAF purchased has been used. SAF purchased will be used in-sector by Neste partners like commercial airlines.
There are a range of established SAF producers, why Neste? Edwards explained: “The company has a rich heritage of manufacturing renewable fuels – it was as early as 2000 when its scientists first started working on renewable fuel solutions. Neste SAF is already in production and available to use today – unlike SAF that has not yet been produced, or SAF credits. There is no palm oil in Neste’s SAF. All the raw materials which make it are waste products that would otherwise end up in landfill.”
SAF will need to do the heavy lifting if aviation is to reach its net zero goals, said Edwards. According to the International Air Transport Association, 65% of carbon emissions will be abated through SAF.
Private flights now account for a quarter of all air traffic in the US – about twice the level pre-pandemic, according to WINGX. “Couple this with recent UN science reports highlighting the planet is on track for a disastrous 3.2x [times] of warming by the end of this century, and you see why we’re making partnerships like this,” said Edwards.
The near-term industry target is 10% SAF by 2030. Currently the industry is using 0.1% SAF so there needs to be a 100-fold increase in SAF to hit this over the next eight years.
“Political action will not be enough – 5% SAF from 2030 in the EU – far more voluntary action is needed if we want to reach net zero as an industry,” said Edwards.
