OMV and Austrian Airlines are producing and refueling regional, sustainable aviation fuel (Sustainable Aviation Fuel "SAF") in Austria for the first time. For the coming year 2022, the production and refueling of SAF in the amount of 1.500 tons was agreed.

At the OMV Schwechat refinery, SAF is produced by processing Austrian used cooking oil in the production process. In this way, the entire production chain is kept as regional as possible and transport routes are reduced to a minimum, according to the Lufthansa subsidiary in a broadcast. Compared to conventional kerosene, SAF causes CO₂- Reduction of more than 80 percent over the entire life cycle. A decisive technical advantage of sustainable aviation fuel is that the existing infrastructure can be used for storage and refueling. Thanks to the direct pipeline connection to Schwechat Airport, SAF for refueling AUA machines will be delivered to Vienna Airport from the beginning of March 2022.

“Aviation must become climate-friendly and sustainable fuels are the key to this. We are proud to be the first Austrian airline to use such fuels in routine operations. This not only protects the climate, but also strengthens Austria as a business location. I am pleased that we can take a first step here with our partner OMV. It is now important, together with politicians, to initiate a location initiative so that we can meet the admixture quantities required by the EU from 2025 and, hopefully, significantly exceed them, ”says airline boss Alexis von Hoensbroech.

With the refueling of 1.500 tons of SAF by Austrian Airlines, around 3.750 tons of CO₂ saved. This corresponds to the CO₂-Emission of 333 Vienna-London flights with a typical short to medium-haul AUA aircraft (Airbus A320).