SkyNRG, KLM and AltAir sign biojet fuel offtake agreement

Airliner KLM has signed a three-year biofuel offtake agreement with biojet fuel specialists SkyNRG and AltAir.

As part of the agreement, KLM will purchase sustainable jet fuel for all flights departing from Los Angeles, US.

The fuel, produced by AltAir Fuels and supplied by SkyNRG, is made from used cooking oil and delivered via the airport’s hydrant system. This is part of a new era for sustainable jet fuel and demonstrates it can be produced on large-scale while still meeting strict sustainability standards.

AltAir is the first and only bio-refinery in the world with dedicated production capacity for sustainable jet fuel, enabling KLM to fly on biofuel from Los Angeles airport on a continuous basis.

KLM’s sustainable flights are made possible by the partners from KLM’s Corporate BioFuel Programme: ABN AMRO, Accenture, CBRE Global Investors, FMO, FrieslandCampina, City of Amsterdam, Heineken, Loyens & Loeff, PGGM, Perfetti Van Melle and the Schiphol Group. These companies pay a surcharge that covers the price difference between sustainable biofuel and traditional kerosene.

The investment is fully utilised by KLM to purchase sustainable biofuel from SkyNRG. Consequently, the participating corporations reduce CO₂ emissions resulting from their business travel and contribute to the further development of the biofuel market for aviation.

“Sustainable biofuel is currently one of the most effective ways to reduce CO₂ emissions in the airline industry,” said KLM president and CEO Pieter Elbers. “Owing partly to the companies taking part in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme, we have been able to take this step, giving a further impulse to the consistent production of biofuel.”

Bryan Sherbacow, president AltAir Fuels: “KLM’s multi-year biofuel offtake is a real milestone for the industry and shows their commitment to making aviation more sustainable. We’re proud to supply them together with our project partner SkyNRG.”

Maarten van Dijk, CEO SkyNRG: “We’re extremely proud that only five years after we supplied KLM to operate the first commercial biofuel flight worldwide, our launching customer has now signed its first long-term biofuel offtake. AltAir’s dedicated production capacity marks an important milestone as creating scale is crucial to take the next step in the development of the sustainable jet fuel market.”