Ryanair has procured 1,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Shell, a global energy group, to be delivered to the airline’s base at Stansted Airport.
This volume of SAF is adequate for fueling more than 200 flights between Stansted and Madrid.
The purchase is a result of the MoU agreement established between the companies in 2022. This agreement grants Ryanair exclusive access to acquire up to 360,000 tonnes of SAF from Shell between 2025 and 2030, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 900,000 tonnes.
Ryanair has made significant strides in fulfilling its decarbonization commitments through collaborations such as its work with Trinity College Dublin in the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre. The airline has also invested heavily in new technology aircraft, including a $22 billion investment in its ‘Gamechanger’ fleet, reducing CO2 emissions by 16%, and an additional $40 billion investment in 300 Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft, which decrease CO2 emissions by 20% and noise by 50% while accommodating 21% more passengers.
Thomas Fowler, Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability and Finance, emphasized the company’s leadership in sustainable aviation. He highlighted Ryanair’s investments in SAF, latest engine technologies, and electric ground handling equipment, all aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and reducing CO2 emissions by 25% per passenger/km by 2031. Fowler acknowledged the pivotal role of partners like Shell and MAG in enabling these objectives, citing Ryanair’s purchase of 1,000 tonnes of SAF as evidence of their collaborative efforts.
Ashleigh McDougall, Shell’s GM Aviation Europe and South Africa, expressed Shell’s satisfaction in supplying sustainable aviation fuel to Ryanair at Stansted Airport. McDougall reiterated Shell’s commitment to supporting customers in their decarbonization endeavors, reflecting on the MoU signed in 2022.
