An Air France Airbus flies partially green between Mirabel and Paris

Airbus and Air France take a historic step with the first delivery of an A220 powered by sustainable fuel.

This is a small revolution from Airbus that took place in the sky between Canada and France. On August 25, 2025, a brand new Airbus A220 departed from the Canadian factory in Mirabel to join Paris, not only with conventional jet fuel but with a blend containing 50% sustainable fuel, known as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel). This delivery flight marks a historic milestone: for the first time, Airbus directly provided its customer Air France with official certificates confirming the use of this greener fuel.

A greener sky

Since a few numbers are worth more than a long speech, this flight saved more than 25 tons of CO2 compared to a flight using only conventional jet fuel. “Fleet renewal and the use of SAF are the two essential levers to reduce our carbon footprint. Combining them is a no-brainer,” explained Blaise Brigaud, head of sustainability at Air France-KLM. The group is already among the world’s largest buyers of sustainable fuel.

But what exactly is SAF? It is a fuel produced from renewable resources, such as used oils or biomass residues. It blends with conventional jet fuel and can be used in current airplanes without any technical modifications. The result: up to 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its entire life cycle.

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For Airbus, this first is also a strong signal. The aircraft manufacturer has started using SAF in its factories and plans to integrate 170,000 liters just in 2025 at Mirabel, which will avoid around 400 tons of CO2. The goal is clear: to make all its aircraft 100% SAF compatible by 2030.

This advancement illustrates an underlying trend. Aviation, often criticized for its climate impact, is massively investing to create a more sustainable future. A flight like this may be just a first step, but it shows that the transition toward a greener sky is indeed underway.

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