For flights departing from the UK this year, Vietnam Airlines will also use a minimum of 2% SAF blend, aiming for a 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.
This milestone underscores the flag carrier's role in advancing sustainable practices and contributes to Vietnam's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. SAF is key to the decarbonization of air transport that provides passengers with both excellent service quality and environmental friendliness.
Earlier, on May 27, 2024, Vietnam Airlines operated flight VN660 from Singapore to Hanoi, marking its milestone as the first airline in Vietnam's history to use SAF for commercial passenger flights.
Currently, SAF can cost between two to three times more than conventional jet fuel that is fully derived from fossil resources, and sometimes it can go up to five or six times more. The adoption of SAF is estimated to increase Vietnam Airlines' operating cost for European flights by approximately USD 4.8 million per year.
On its decarbonization journey, besides SAF, Vietnam Airlines has been implementing several measures to reduce CO2 emissions including using next-generation aircraft, adopting route optimization and fuel-efficient practices, and utilizing IT systems to closely monitor fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with third-party verification. In 2024 alone, Vietnam Airlines is expected to halve CO2 emissions by nearly 70,000 tons through fuel-saving techniques.
The flag carrier is affirming its 'green airline' status through various community-based initiatives for sustainable development, namely the Skyteam Aviation Challenge 2024, United Nations' International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Contribute Leaves to the Forests - For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam project to restore forest ecosystems, Flying Light to Con Dao campaign to raise awareness of CO2 emission reduction and include young people in the sustainable climate response.
These efforts underscore Vietnam Airlines' commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility under the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework. Moving forward, the airline will continue to collaborate with supply chain partners to increase the use of SAF and promote comprehensive sustainable development solutions.
