To support global climate goals, Croatia Airlines is using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel) for the first time on selected flights departing from the Republic of Croatia. This action is based on a pilot project, thus preparing for the implementation of legislation that will apply from 2025.
Sustainable aviation fuel, in which the content of SAF components is 30 to 40 percent, will be used in the Airbus 319 and Dash 8-Q400 aircraft planned for today’s international flights from Zagreb to Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, London Heathrow and Zurich, and domestic flights Zagreb – Split, Zagreb – Dubrovnik – Zagreb and Zagreb – Pula – Zadar.
Sustainable aviation fuel for the mentioned flights was provided by INA through its supplier, which thereby confirmed its readiness for the upcoming legal obligation according to which, from the beginning of 2025, suppliers in the European Union must use 2 percent of fuel from renewable sources to decarbonize air traffic. Specifically, by the European Union Regulation, all aviation fuel suppliers will be obliged to supply SAF fuel to aircraft, and airlines use the same within the European Union, which applies to all airports with a capacity of more than 800,000 passengers per year. SAF fuel is a component that is produced from raw materials that meet sustainability criteria and is mixed with fossil JET fuel.
What is additionally important to emphasize is that the use of SAF fuel does not require any changes within the aircraft tank itself and can be used in all Croatia Airlines aircraft, making the use of this fuel simple, while at the same time ensuring cleaner and better air quality for all fellow citizens. The use of sustainable fuel, SAF, in the average life cycle of the fuel, reduces the level of greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80%.
It is worth reminding that the Republic of Croatia, as a signatory of the Paris Agreement (2016), accepted the obligation to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and support the long-term goal of keeping the increase in the average world temperature at a level significantly lower than 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, and that they will make efforts to limit this rise to 1.5°C. In this context, the European Union, as part of encouraging the reduction of emissions in transport, prepared the Fit for 55 packages, as part of which the Refuel Regulation (EU) 2023/2405, which refers to stakeholders in air traffic, was adopted.
Aware of its role as a national carrier, but also as the initiator of new initiatives, on the eve of Earth Day (April 22) and in cooperation with INA as a strategic partner, today’s pilot project and flights with SAF fuel, Croatia Airlines actively supports the green transition of the Republic of Croatia, thus influencing the reduction of CO2 emissions and confirming readiness for the days to come.
