The synthetic kerosene was produced by INERATEC, blended with fossil kerosene by MB Energy, and refueled into the aircraft at Schiphol Airport. Synthetic, sustainable aviation fuel is made from renewable electricity, CO2, and water. Compared to fossil kerosene, lifecycle emissions can be reduced by more than 90 percent.
Back in 2021, KLM pioneered the first commercial flight with synthetic kerosene to Madrid. While 500 liters of e-SAF were blended then, currently only 200 liters are possible. This highlights the challenge: the availability of e-SAF lags far behind ambitions. Today, only a fraction of the e-SAF quantity mandated by Europe for 2030 is actually produced. A major challenge remains to make e-SAF widely available on a large scale and to keep it affordable alongside SAF.
Alternative fuels as a priority
KLM supports European targets for the use of alternative fuels and will continue to invest in aviation sustainability. At the same time, current production figures for e-SAF show that the European sub-target of a 1.2 percent e-SAF blend by 2030 presents a significant challenge. Besides the fact that e-SAF is currently four times more expensive than SAF (and about eight times more expensive than conventional kerosene), there is still no large-scale e-SAF production. The process of obtaining construction and environmental permits in Europe also plays a role, as does the uncertainty about potential changes to ReFuelEU legislation. It remains crucial for governments across Europe to commit and invest in accelerating and expanding alternative aviation fuels, both SAF and e-SAF.
Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM, sees e-SAF as an important lever for sustainable aviation: "As CEO of KLM and chair of Project SkyPower, I am convinced that e-SAF can make a decisive contribution to sustainability in aviation. KLM already pioneered the use of e-SAF with a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Madrid in 2021. The flight to Hamburg once again demonstrates that flying with synthetic kerosene is technically possible. However, the reality is that the availability of e-SAF falls far short of ambitions. To truly make an impact, we must work together with governments, industry, and partners to scale and affordability, advancing aviation sustainability."
Christian Kunsch, Chairman of Hamburg Airport, emphasizes the role of sustainable aviation fuels in decarbonization: "Sustainably produced aviation fuels will play an important role in decarbonizing air transport in the coming years. Our infrastructure is fully prepared, and we actively support airlines in utilizing locally produced fuel blends, including through targeted incentives. Today's e-SAF flight marks an important milestone towards lower CO2 emissions through the use of alternative fuels."
Tim Boeltken, co-founder and CEO of INERATEC, sees the flight as proof of practical feasibility: "We are ready for deployment. Today's flight, with our Chief Commercial Officer Maximilian Backhaus on board a regular passenger flight, clearly demonstrates that power-to-liquid fuels are safe, available, and ready for use today. This is just the beginning of many applications we will see in various industries this year."
Jonathan Perkins, CEO of MB Energy, regards the project as a tangible step towards scaling carbon-reduced fuels: "Aviation has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. With this project, together with KLM and INERATEC, we are showing how carbon-reduced fuels can be integrated into existing infrastructure and operations. At MB Energy, we are laying the groundwork today—by opening up marketing pathways, adapting our infrastructure, and building reliable supply chains—so we can deliver as soon as our customers are ready."