Sweden is something of a pioneer when it comes to decarbonising aviation, with the government stipulating that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend ratios are required to increase from 1% by volume in 2021 to 30% in 2030. In line with that mandate, this year (2024) marks the fifth consecutive year that Swedavia is offering its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) incentive programme – offering discounts and reimbursing airlines up to 50% of the premium cost for refuelling with renewable aviation fuel. The lower cost limit for the programme is SEK 125,000, which equates to a minimum premium cost of SEK 250,000 for participating airlines.
Several airlines, including SAS and Aegean Airlines and the transport and logistics company DHL have signed agreements with the Swedish airport operator to participate in the incentive programme for sustainable aviation for 2023. The total amount to be distributed within the incentive programme in 2024 is SEK 40 million over three application periods.
“Various aviation actors are helping to accelerate the transition work,” said Charlotte Ljunggren, Director of Marketing and Commercial Development at Swedavia. “We can see this not least through increased interest in the SAF incentive programme, where Swedavia offers discounts to airlines that choose to refuel with renewable aviation fuel. At Swedavia, we are also seeing an increased ambition among our partners as the industry continues to reset and invest in new initiatives in the wake of the pandemic. The ongoing recovery in air travel is taking place in parallel with the continued ambitious transition work, and Swedavia is raising its level of ambition further by doubling the pot in the programme for the second year in a row. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels is an important part of the transition, and the incentive programme is an important piece of the puzzle.”
Swedavia’s SAF incentive discount programme has been on offer since 2020 and and is an initiative that is complemented by Swedavia being completely fossil-free in its own operations. It has also been using using HVO100 diesel in its airports for ground vehicles since 2020. The airport operator also wants to see a large-scale production in Sweden of fossil-free fuel in the future, which would lead to more jobs being created.
Image: (C) Swedavia
