Groupe ADP and Dassault Aviation join forces at Paris-Le Bourget
Dassault Aviation, its subsidiary Dassault Falcon Service (DFS) and French airport operator Groupe ADP have signed a five-year agreement strengthening their collaboration to decarbonise Paris-Le Bourget Airport in the French capital.
The collaboration will see the two companies focus their research and activities on the distribution and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as well as the use of electric equipment for all ground operations (fuelling, taxiing, towing etc) and the use of geothermal power for airport buildings and hangars.
The agreement also contains a section aimed at boosting the airport’s attractiveness in its employment pool.
“Decarbonising aviation will begin with small aircraft, and will only be possible with the full involvement of the airport ecosystem,” said Augustin de Romanet, Chairman and CEO of Groupe ADP. “As infrastructure managers, we have a responsibility to accelerate, integrate and encourage the use of new technologies that make the environmental transition possible. Paris-Le Bourget is the first airport in Europe to have a permanent double offering of sustainable aviation fuels. Around 3.2 million litres of SAF were sold in 2023. We are developing our facilities to enable our customers to electrify all of their ground operations. With Dassault Aviation, we are making an unprecedented commitment to see Paris-Le Bourget airport become a model of low-carbon operations, through the full-scale deployment of sustainable fuels and the electrification of all ground operations.”
Meanwhile, Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, added that the aircraft manufacturer is exploring several technologies, including SAFs which look very promising. “Our Falcon jets can already fly with fuel containing 50% SAF. However, only mixes with 30% are currently available in the market. We must therefore accelerate the process. Our agreement with Groupe ADP will contribute, by furthering our ambition to work together toward the most effective solutions, both in this area and in many others.” he said.
Header image: (C) Dassault Aviation
