Ryanair signs ‘green’ fuel deal with Shell

RYANAIR will be given greater access to greener fuel at more than 200 airports across Europe after it signed a deal with Shell.

Europe’s largest airline will have access to 360,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the agreement, which will direct supplies particularly to its largest bases in Dublin and London Stansted.

The memorandum of understanding means Ryanair could save about 900,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions between 2025 and 2030 – the equivalent of 70,000 flights from Dublin to Milan.

Ryanair aims for its fuel to be made up of at least 12.5pc of the greener alternative by 2030, and have net-zero emissions by 2050.

Thomas Fowler, Ryanair’s sustainability director, said: “Today’s agreement with Shell helps Ryanair secure access to about 20pc of this ambitious goal.”

Ryanair wants to carry 225m passengers a year by the end of 2026, up from 72m in 2021, with chief executive Michael O’leary saying the company expects next summer “to be very strong” after a softer first quarter of 2023.

With air travel under increasing scrutiny from climate campaigners, the airline sees SAF as a way of achieving its goal while showing it is on target for its net zero goals. Despite being seen as a key way to decarbonise air travel, it accounts for just a fraction of worldwide jet fuel usage.

First used by the industry in 2008, it has powered more than 250,000 flights around the world, according to Shell.

However, volumes currently remain low, with SAF accounting for less than 0.1pc of the aviation fuel market.

It is derived from a variety of feedstocks, including waste.

Jan Toschka, president of Shell Aviation, said: “This initial agreement demonstrates that both companies recognise that SAF is the key to unlock a net-zero future for aviation.”