Air France A220 Becomes First Aircraft to Receive Sustainability Credentials from Airbus Canada
- Air France’s latest A220 flew from Mirabel, Canada to Paris on a 50% SAF blend, saving more than 25 tonnes of emissions.
- Airbus Canada issued official sustainability credentials for the first time, certified under ICAO’s CORSIA scheme.
- Airbus plans to integrate 170,000 liters of pure SAF at Mirabel in 2025, cutting CO₂ emissions by 400 metric tonnes.
Air France’s newest Airbus A220-300 has become the first aircraft to receive sustainability credentials directly from Airbus Canada after completing its delivery flight using a 50% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The aircraft, named “VAISON-LA-ROMAINE,” marks the airline’s 46th A220 and represents a milestone in aligning aviation with net-zero goals.
The Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) for the flight were certified under ICAO’s CORSIA framework. The SAF used in Mirabel demonstrated up to 85% lifecycle emissions reduction compared to conventional jet fuel. Airbus said this step strengthens its long-term ambition of scaling SAF use across all sites.
“Fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuel are the two main levers of the decarbonisation of aviation,” said Blaise Brigaud, SVP Group Sustainability at Air France-KLM. “Directly receiving SAF at delivery is a game-changer, increasing transparency and driving industry progress.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Air France-KLM Invests in SAF Producer to Boost Sustainable Aviation in the United States
Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada, added: “In 2025 alone, we project cutting CO₂ emissions by approximately 400 metric tonnes at our Mirabel site thanks to the 170,000 litres of pure SAF we will integrate. This ferry flight with PoS credits for 50% SAF is a significant step, coming just ahead of Air France’s 50th A220 delivery later this year.”
All Airbus aircraft are currently certified to operate with up to 50% SAF, with the goal of full 100% compatibility by 2030. In the first half of 2025, 78% of Airbus deliveries used SAF blends, underscoring the fuel’s growing role in the industry’s net-zero transition.
For Air France, the A220 has been in service since 2021 on medium-haul routes, delivering a 25% reduction in fuel burn and emissions per seat compared to the aircraft it replaces. The airline has ordered 60 A220-300s in total.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
