An Air France Airbus A220 today completed its delivery flight from Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, to Paris using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking a key milestone in sustainable aviation.
This event is notable as it represents the first time Airbus in Canada has directly provided official sustainability documentation for SAF to a customer, setting a new precedent in Airbus’ operations.
The flight underscores Airbus’ ability to issue Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) directly to operators and supports the aviation industry’s broader commitment to decarbonisation. With a 50% SAF blend certified through the mass balance method, this ferry flight—operated by Air France’s 46th A220-300, named “VAISON-LA-ROMAINE”—resulted in a reduction of over 25 tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
“Fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuel are the two main levers of aviation decarbonisation. Combining both is a natural step, and Air France-KLM is proud to take part in this Airbus milestone with the delivery of one of our A220s. As one of the largest SAF purchasers globally, receiving SAF directly at delivery increases transparency and supports industry advancement,” said Blaise Brigaud, SVP Group Sustainability at Air France-KLM.
Since the announcement of SAF availability at Airbus’ Mirabel site—allowing its use in A220 production, test flights, and customer acceptance flights—Airbus has reinforced its commitment to incorporating SAF not only in internal operations but also in customer ferry flights across its global network of final assembly lines and delivery centers.
“In 2025 alone, we anticipate a reduction of around 400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions at our Mirabel facility, thanks to the integration of 170,000 litres of neat SAF,” said Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada. “This ferry flight, using PoS credits for 50% SAF, is a major milestone ahead of Air France’s 50th A220 delivery later this year. Globally, 78% of Airbus aircraft delivered in the first half of 2025 included SAF, reflecting our customers’ strong commitment to decarbonisation.”
All Airbus aircraft, including the A220, are currently certified to fly with up to 50% SAF, with a target of achieving 100% SAF compatibility by 2030. According to PoS issued under the CORSIA Sustainability Certification Scheme, approved by ICAO, the SAF supplied at Mirabel offers an 85% reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions compared to fossil-based jet fuel—a crucial development in achieving net-zero emissions in aviation by 2050.
The SAF used in Mirabel is managed through the mass balance approach, a chain-of-custody model that tracks the volume of certified material entering and exiting the system, minus any processing losses. The SAF is blended with Jet A-1 fuel following industry standards and is fully auditable.
Air France’s A220-300 aircraft, part of a firm order of 60, have been operating on medium-haul routes since October 2021. The A220 offers up to 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft.
