24
April 2025
Air France-KLM welcomes Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot for the Carb Aéro France 2030 award ceremony supporting the development of sustainable aviation fuel
On April 23, 2025, the Carb Aéro call for projects award ceremony was held at Air France’s headquarters at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. This initiative, part of the France 2030 investment program, aims to support the emergence of a sustainable aviation electrofuel (e-SAF) sector — a key technology in achieving the decarbonization goals of the aviation industry.
The ceremony was attended by Philippe Tabarot, Minister Delegate for Transport under the Minister of Territorial Planning and Decentralization, Philippe Pascal, Chairman and CEO of Groupe ADP, and Anne-Marie Couderc, Chair of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors.
As an airline group fully committed to decarbonizing its industry, Air France-KLM proudly hosted this event and reaffirmed its support for the development of an industrial ecosystem for sustainable fuel production in France — contributing to the country’s energy sovereignty and competitiveness.
As Anne-Marie Couderc stated: “France and Europe today have an opportunity: to move from being importers of fossil fuels to becoming producers of decarbonized fuel. This is a major turning point, opening the door to job creation and added value.”
Four award winners driving innovation and ecological transition
The Group applauds the four winners of the Carb Aéro call for projects, true pioneers in a future where technological innovation, ecological transition, and air transport go hand in hand:
- EDF – Take Kair: an industrial pilot in the Pays de la Loire region to produce e-kerosene from biogenic CO₂, leveraging synergies between several French industrial players.
- ENGIE – France KerEauZen: a sustainable fuel production unit in Le Havre, using green hydrogen and recycled CO₂. This project will reduce carbon emissions by more than 80% compared to fossil kerosene.
- Elyse Energy – BioTJet: a plant located in the Lacq basin that will produce advanced bio-kerosene from local forest biomass, with commissioning planned for 2027.
- Verso Energy: a French startup planning to invest one billion euros in the Vosges to create an industrial facility capable of producing up to 150,000 tons of electrofuels annually by 2029.
A long-standing commitment to sustainable fuel
Air France-KLM is one of the world’s first airline groups to commit to the use and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As early as 2009, Air France and KLM were among the first airlines to test and then scale up the incorporation of SAF.
Today, the Group is one of the largest global SAF buyers and applies a strict procurement policy. The SAF selected by Air France-KLM does not compete with food chains, is not palm oil-based, and does not contribute to deforestation.
An industrial momentum supporting local territories
Beyond environmental concerns, the projects supported through Carb Aéro contribute to the reindustrialization of France by creating jobs in local areas and strengthening the regional foothold of future industrial sectors.
As a major economic and social driver in France, the Netherlands, and Europe, the Air France-KLM Group welcomes these tangible prospects for employment, training, and innovation.
According to the French Ministry of Transport, the selected projects will create around 510 jobs through the four facilities to be operated and help secure the jobs of industrial players currently producing biogenic carbon.
Learn more (page in French): https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/presse/france-2030-gouvernement-devoile-4-laureats-lappel-projets-carb-aero-faveur-decarbonation-du
