Sofia Airport started 2025 with another step towards sustainable aviation. In January, the airport was refuelled 11,369.62 tonnes of Jet A1 aviation fuel blended with 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 1,894 aircraft were loaded with this fuel, which is about 75% of all flights departing from Sofia for the month.
“Sofia Airport is becoming a leader in Europe in the use of sustainable fuel. The successful certification of our fuel farm, SAF refuelling and the resulting expected savings of hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions are clear evidence of our commitment to greener aviation. This is another important step towards a sustainable future for air transport in Bulgaria and Europe,” said Jesús Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect-the operator of Sofia Airport.
At the end of last year, the certification audit of Sofia Airport’s sustainable aviation fuel farm was successfully completed. SOF Connect started offering SAF refuelling from the beginning of 2025 and over 600 kilograms of carbon emissions have been saved in just one month, reinforcing Sofia Airport’s commitment to a greener future and reducing aviation’s carbon footprint.
From 1st January 2025, new rules came into force in the European Union requiring aviation fuel suppliers to provide a minimum of 2% sustainable aviation fuel of the total fuel supplied to airports. Sustainable aviation fuels include synthetic, high-tech and biofuels as well as recycled carbon fuels. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make aviation carbon-neutral by 2050. The initiative is part of the EU’s efforts to decarbonize transport and part of the targets to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030.