Jet2 is making an unspecified “major investment” into a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant.
The company is to acquire an equity stake and expects to receive more than 200 million litres of SAF over 15 years from 2027.
The Fulcrum NorthPoint facility, being developed by Fulcrum BioEnergy, is a waste-to-fuels plant located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Jet2.com will receive a “significant volume” of SAF produced at the plant once in operation to help power a fleet of up to 148 new generation Airbus A320/321neo aircraft the company has on order.
The SAF is expected to achieve net emissions reductions totalling around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 for Jet2.com over the 15 year period of the agreement.
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When at full capacity 600,000 tonnes of non-recyclable household waste, which would otherwise have been destined for incineration or landfill, will be converted into around 100 million litres of SAF a year.
The location of the plant means that SAF is expected to be delivered directly to Manchester airport using the existing jet fuel pipework infrastructure, rather than having to rely on transporting the fuel by road.
The SAF produced at the NorthPoint site is expected to achieve life cycle emissions reductions of about 70% when compared to conventional aviation fuel, with the future potential to be fully carbon neutral.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy said: “Travel and tourism is a force for good and, like all industries, we know how critical it is to mitigate our climate impacts.
“This significant investment into Fulcrum NorthPoint’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel production in the UK shows not only how seriously we take that responsibility, but also how committed we are to taking tangible actions to address it.
“Not only will this action help to lower our climate impacts, but it represents a major step forward in our transition to net zero too.
“Whether investing in SAF, spending billions on our aircraft fleet, or placing a price on every tonne of carbon we emit, we are putting sustainable travel at the heart of our business.
“By doing this, our customers know they are travelling with an airline and holiday company that takes its environmental impact seriously and takes substantial action to address it too.”
He added: “This type of investment is critical if we are to get this technology up to the scale required to decarbonise the industry.
“Our investment is a very clear demonstration that we are backing SAF and the UK production of SAF early.
“We are calling on the UK government to scale up its level of ambition and support for SAF production too. Doing this will help achieve decarbonisation of the aviation sector, stimulate uptake and seize the enormous economic opportunity here in the UK.”
Jeff Ovens, managing director of Fulcrum BioEnergy UK, said: “This strategic, project level investment by Jet2 demonstrates clear commitment to the development of a UK SAF industry and further underpins Fulcrum’s leading position in the global waste-to-SAF industry.
“Fulcrum values this new partnership with Jet2, and we look forward to working together to successfully develop Fulcrum NorthPoint and bring low carbon jet fuel to Jet2’s increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft fleet.”