Wizz Air: 55% of surveyed passengers unaware of SAF’s existence
January 22, 2025
In collaboration with Airbus, sustainable energy company Moeve and Brussels’ Charleroi airport, Wizz Air has conducted over 50 flights using blended SAF; a flight trial Wizz Air corporate and ESG officer Yvonne Moynihan says “reaffirms [the airline’s] commitment to flying towards sustainability”.
First announced in October 2024, the trial saw the low-cost carrier incorporate blended SAF across two major routes, Barcelona to Budapest and Brussels Charleroi to Budapest. Up to 34 metric tons of SAF were used for the study, supplied by Moeve (formally Cespa) and distributed by World Fuel Services to each of the destination airports at blends of up to 10%. However, although operationally viable, more needs to be done to address issues of passenger awareness and fuel availability.
Although 71% of those surveyed believe in SAF’s potential to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions, only 45% were aware of its existence before the survey. Additionally, 74% were unaware of the recent implementation of RefuelEU legislation, mandating a minimum share of SAF in flights departing from EU airports from 1 January 2025.
Although 58% of passengers stated they would consider adjusting travel habits for environmental reasons, 36% of respondents would not be willing to pay extra. However, 72% called for government investment to scale SAF production; which, as well as making more fuel available to meet blending mandates, should hopefully help achieve something closer to price parity.
“Wizz Air is dedicated to prioritising initiatives that transparently educate our passengers about SAF, its benefits and challenges, in the journey to decarbonising aviation,” explained Moynihan. “Together with our partners, we will continue to advocate for policy support to address cost and production challenges to enable a green transition”.
