BARCELONA/MADRID, June 6th, 2023 - Volotea, the Spanish airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, and Cepsa, energy provider and one of the main producers and suppliers of aviation fuels in the Spanish market, have reached an agreement to accelerate the decarbonization of air transport by researching and producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Both companies are prioritizing the development of sustainable fuels to further reduce the carbon footprint of air transport and contribute to the fight against climate change. The partnership involves Cepsa supplying SAF to Volotea, starting in 2025, for the airline’s routes in Spain, where it operates at 22 airports, including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Tenerife Sur, and Gran Canaria.

This sustainable fuel will be produced from organic waste, such as used cooking oils and agricultural waste. These biofuels promote the circular economy, as they are made from waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, and they reduce aircraft emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fuels.

The partnership will also work on the development of new energy alternatives, such as renewable hydrogen, and the electrification of Volotea’s ground fleets, which include supply vehicles and those for baggage loading and unloading and aircraft assistance.

“With this agreement, we have taken another step forward in our commitment to make aviation sustainable, and it follows the efforts we have been making as a company for many years to foster the transition to a decarbonized airline industry. We believe sustainable fuels in aircraft will play a key role in this strategy, which is why at Volotea, we started using SAF in 2022 on all flights in the special service we operate between France and Germany for Airbus. Through partnerships like this one with Cepsa, we aim to collaborate so that these fuels (now difficult to access) can be developed and made mainstream as soon as possible”, said Carlos Muñoz, Founder and CEO of Volotea.

“As a leading energy supplier to the aviation sector in Spain, we are committed to helping our customers decarbonize their business. SAF makes it possible to greatly reduce aircraft emissions without making any changes to their engines, and it has the same specifications as conventional kerosene in terms of safety and quality”, added Tobi Pardo, Director of Aviation of Cepsa.

This agreement is in line with the European Commission's Fit for 55 package, which includes a legislative initiative called “RefuelEU Aviation” that aims to boost sustainable aviation fuels in the EU to 2% use by 2025 and 6% by 2030.

This agreement reaffirms Volotea's sustainability strategy, which has implemented more than 50 initiatives to date. As a result, between 2012 and 2021, it managed to cut its carbon footprint per passenger kilometer by more than 40%. In 2022, Volotea became the first airline to be audited by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, in its Voloterra sustainability program. In addition to demonstrating its firm commitment to reducing its environmental impact, the audit confirmed that Volotea is on track to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting its CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer by 50% by 2030, compared to 2012.

Among other measures, the airline is consciously working to promote the development of green fuels and actively participating in special initiatives that promote a more sustainable aviation industry. Volotea has operated a special service between France and Germany for Airbus using SAF since 2022, and it invests in companies and technologies to achieve greener and more efficient air operations. These actions reaffirm its commitment to the adoption and promotion of sustainable solutions in the airline industry.

This new partnership consolidates the ambition of Cepsa, one of the main producers and suppliers of aviation fuels in the Spanish market, to become a leader in the clean energy sector. As part of its strategic plan, Positive Motion, the company is developing an ecosystem focused on accelerating the decarbonization of industrial customers, heavy ground, air and maritime transport, as well as the company itself, through the production of green molecules, mainly renewable hydrogen and biofuels. Cepsa aspires to be the leading biofuel producer in Spain and Portugal by 2030, with production capacity of 2.5 million tons annually, and focusing particularly on sustainable aviation, with production capacity of 800,000 tons of SAF every year.

Cepsa has established an ambitious roadmap to cut its emissions, placing it among the leading companies in its sector. Specifically, by 2030, it will reduce its CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 55% compared to 2019 and the carbon intensity index of its products by 15-20%, and it aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

About Volotea

Volotea was founded in 2011 by Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros, also previously founders of Vueling. It is one of the fastest-growing independent airlines in Europe in the last decade, increasing its fleet, routes served, and seats offered year-on-year. This year, the airline has celebrated a milestone of carrying 50 million passengers throughout its whole network.

Volotea reaches more than 100 airports and is currently based in 19 medium-sized European capitals: Asturias, Athens, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Cagliari, Florence (new in 2023), Hamburg, Lille, Lyon, Lourdes, Marseille, Nantes, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Venice, and Verona.

This year, Volotea will operate more than 400 routes (with over half exclusive), offer close to 12M seats (+41% versus 2019), and fly approximately 70,000 flights. The airline operates a fleet of 41 Airbus A319 and A320.

Volotea is dedicated to sustainable aviation and has committed to reducing 50% of its CO2 emissions per passenger and kilometer by 2030 (versus 2012). To date, Volotea has launched over 50 sustainability initiatives that have already driven a reduction in carbon footprint per passenger and kilometer by 41%. Since 2022, the company has been working on developing emission-free alternative technologies, operating Airbus' internal shuttle service with 34% of sustainable aviation fuel, and collaborating with manufacturers and the industry so that these fuels (now difficult to access) can be developed and become widespread as soon as possible. 

Volotea employs 1,750 people and actively contributes to the economic development and cultural landscape of the territories where it is based through sponsorship projects. 

Volotea has won, for the second year in a row, the award as 'Europe's Leading Low-Fares Airline' at the 2022 World Travel Awards, an awards organization recognizing excellence in the transportation and tourism industry worldwide.

 

About Cepsa

Cepsa is a leading international company committed to sustainable mobility and energy, with a consolidated technical expertise after more than 90 years of activity. The company also has a world-leading chemicals business, with increasingly sustainable operations.

In 2022, Cepsa presented its new strategic plan with an eye on 2030, Positive Motion, which projects its ambition to lead sustainable mobility, biofuels and green hydrogen in Spain and Portugal, and become a benchmark in the energy transition. The company places customers at the center of its business and will work with them to help them advance their decarbonization goals.

ESG criteria inspire all of Cepsa's actions to move towards its net positive target. Over the course of this decade, it will reduce its Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 55% and the carbon intensity index of its products by 15-20%, with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Cepsa – Communications Department

medios@cepsa.com

www.cepsa.com

Tel.: (34) 91 337 60 00