Digitalisation and SAF: Director of Sustainability on striving for net-zero at Vueling

At Aerospace Tech Week, Franc Sanmartí, Director of Sustainability & Aeropolitical Affairs, Vueling Airlines joined to share his insights on the industry’s progress towards the net-zero by 2050 target. This five-minute conversation looked at key targets within the airline, the vital role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other emission-cutting initiatives, and Sanmartí’s perspective on the Single European Skies agreement.

Emphasising the importance of SAF, Sanmartí noted that when reducing emissions, 60-70 per cent will come from SAF, compared to 20 per cent from new aircraft technology, 10 per cent from operational efficiency, and the rest from innovations like carbon capture. This highlights that although SAF is critical for the industry’s decarbonisation journey, other efficiency-based tech innovation also has its part to play.

Touching on the Single European Sky agreement, Sanmartí explained that effective digitalisation and innovation can achieve the same emission reduction that the agreement initially proposed. To unlock this, collaboration within the industry and across the value chain will be crucial.

Watch the full interview below for more.

Questions asked include:

1. 1. Do you think the industry is where it needs to be to hit the net-zero by 2050 targets?
   2. What balance are you striking between investment in SAF and investment in sustainability focused technologies?
   3. Are you satisfied with the Single European Sky agreement’s ability to drive meaningful progress with regards to sustainability?

For more from onsite at Aerospace Tech Week see:

1. 1. • Transforming ATM: Viasat’s Joel Klooster on the future of connectivity
      • Willie Walsh: “They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
      • The next big aerospace innovations with the MD of JetBlue Ventures