New technologies and collaborations amongst stakeholders in air cargo, transport and logistics have created positive optimism in the industry-wide effort towards the use of SAF, and leading airline Air France KLM and its cargo division are certainly in front of this movement.

Earlier this week, five Chinese partners from the airline’s East Asia network signed up on its SAF programme, which the airline described ‘reflects China’s commitment to investing in cleaner air and reducing its carbon footprint.’

The airline’s programme enables shippers and forwarders to power a share of their flights with the repurposed green fuel, which is said to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85 percent.

The five forwarders and third-party logistics players that joined the programme include freight forwarder AWOT Global Express, operating between Hong Kong and Lima in Peru; state-owned CTS International Logistics Corporation, which operates between Shanghai and Amsterdam; and Chinese partner Jobmate International Logistics for Shanghai and Paris.

Also taking part in the SAF programme is Beijing-based e-commerce logistics player Sinotrans and small forwarder turned full-range logistic services provider Xiamen SuperTrans, which has operations from Hangzhou and Xiamen to Amsterdam, respectively.

The airline said these new partnerships will allow ‘greener’ air freight routes connecting China with Europe and South America.
Whilst panel discussions on the use of sustainable aviation fuel have often highlighted the higher costs involved, AFKLMP’s new partners seem particularly eager with their investments towards a more sustainable future.

“Air France KLM’s SAF Programme came at the right time and we had no hesitation in saying ‘Yes’ to investing in it,” said Kenny Li, managing director of AWOT Global Express remarked. “It gives us a jumpstart in our endeavour to be socially responsible and environmentally conscious.”

So far, SinoTrans has disclosed that the partnership will reduce CO2 emissions on KLM’s Hangzhou-Amsterdam flight by over 15 percent for this year.