Wizz Air operates the first green demonstration flight between Bucharest and Lyon

Wizz Air low-cost airline has operated its first green demonstration flight on a special route between Bucharest and Lyon. Operations implied partially using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Including even more sustainable practices on board, the flight departed from Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest and landed at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, as part of a collective effort of major airlines and with the occasion of the European Union’s “Connecting Europe Days 2022” sustainable mobility conference.

Brought to the next level through the Airbus A321neo aircraft, a staple in durable aviation, the green demonstration operations using partly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are a pivotal moment for Wizz Air and the aviation industry. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a blend of conventional aviation fuel and biojet fuel, made from waste and residue sourced from the circular economy, which can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90% over its lifecycle. During the demonstration operations, Wizz Air took 4.5 tonnes of a SAF fuel blend (sourced from used cooking oil) consisting of 30% pure SAF and 70% Jet A1 fuel.  This helped Wizz Air also achieve the currently lowest possible emissions per passenger kilometre in Europe out of the airlines taking part in this sustainable effort. WIZZ flew with a 14.2% blend of SAF, which resulted in a CO₂ emissions reduction of 12.8%. The airline already uses a fleet of efficient world-class engines and aircraft, crucial for low emissions. Wizz Air is proud to have one of the youngest fleets in Europe, with an average fleet age of 4.93 years, which will continue to improve and reduce to 3.6 years by 2024, and even further to 3.2 years by 2026.

This was a greener flight also in regard to the on-board services provided, showing that sustainable aviation can be implemented at all levels of the travel experience, while still providing superior service to passengers. During the flight, journalists, influencers, crew members and all passengers alike learned more about Wizz Air’s environmental programmes directly from Johan Eidhagen, Chief People and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, and found out how to further reduce one’s environmental footprint when choosing to fly. The flight’s captain also shared details about the airline’s existing fuel saving initiatives that contribute to Wizz Air’s industry-leading carbon intensity performance. Wizz Air encouraged passengers to travel with luggage as light as possible, collect the recyclable waste on board and choose from our vegan meal options.

Wizz Air launched, at the beginning of 2022, the ‘Fly the Greenest’ campaign. And just two days ago, on June 27th, Wizz Air has been recognised as the „Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline” within the World Finance Sustainability awards 2022, announced in this year’s summer issue of World Finance magazine. Now in their fourth year, the World Finance Sustainability Awards celebrate the companies putting green values at the forefront of their business operations and making efforts in this regard within their fields of business.

A passenger traveling with Wizz Air will have a CO₂ footprint of only 57.2 grams per passenger kilometre on average (pre-COVID). If every airline would be as efficient, European CO₂ emissions from aviation would reduce by 34%. Besides its modern fleet, Wizz Air doesn’t fly half-empty planes, doesn’t have business class seating, and only flies direct routes. Thus, avoiding unnecessary pollution and embracing low emission transport.

Johan Eidhagen, Chief People and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air is the fastest growing airline in Europe and has an ambitious growing strategy, planning to expand its fleet and its team of dedicated pilots and crew members. We strive to serve more and more passengers every day and continue to deliver affordable travel for all, in the most sustainable way. Today, we flew together with the first green demonstration flight from Bucharest to Lyon, in anticipation to EU’s “Connecting Europe Days” sustainable mobility conference. This special flight shows our commitment to a greener future for the aviation sector. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have been working to make Wizz Air one of Europe’s most sustainable airlines and all passengers that choose to fly the greenest each day!”