PARIS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- European aircraft manufacturer Airbus will closely collaborate with China to jointly promote green, innovative, and sustainable development of the aviation industry and the global economy, according to several Airbus executives during the Airbus Summit 2025 held recently in the company's corporate headquarters in Toulouse, France.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told Xinhua that Airbus is committed to accelerating the production and application of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to facilitate the decarbonization process, which aligns with China's relevant development plans. He noted that China has already launched SAF pilot programs at multiple domestic airports, with participation from major Chinese airlines. "I think the plans of China (for SAF) are very ambitious and that's something we are welcoming," he said.
Faury acknowledged that Airbus is still "at the beginning" of the trajectory in terms of promoting SAF, and needs to leverage China's industrial ecosystem to accelerate progress. "We are engaging with many stakeholders in China, including airports, airlines and rule makers," he said, adding that Airbus has also established partnerships with Chinese energy companies for SAF development.
He further stated that China holds multiple advantages in SAF development, including abundant feedstock, strong centralized planning capabilities, clear green agenda policies, and devoted energy companies with advanced technologies. "These factors are accelerating the use of SAF in aviation, and that benefits our customers," he noted.
Julie Kitcher, chief sustainability officer of the company, believed that China is advancing rapidly in renewable energy and is poised to become a global player in SAF. Besides having ample biofuel resources, China could also emerge as a leader in technologies that synthesize aviation fuel by combining green hydrogen with carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere, she said.
"I see China as a long-term partner in decarbonizing the aviation industry," Kitcher stated. Given the strong growth of China's aviation market, Airbus must align its decarbonization and emission reduction efforts with this growth trend. She noted that in 2024, 18 percent of the aviation fuel used in the company's global facilities and flight tests consisted of SAF. Similarly, the Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in China's Tianjin actively incorporated SAF in its test and delivery flights during the same period.
"What is really inspiring for me and what is really good to see is how fast and how far you can go," said Sabine Klauke, the company's chief technology officer. Leveraging China's research ecosystem, Airbus has made significant progress in sustainability through concrete projects and applications.
Klauke also pointed out that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Airbus's operations in China and the 20th anniversary of the Airbus Engineering Center in Beijing. Currently, through its China Research Center in Suzhou, Airbus is actively advancing technological collaboration with China in hydrogen energy, hydrogen infrastructure, and cabin systems, according to Klauke. (Contributed by Li Wenxin, edited by Yu Huichen with Xinhua Silk Road, yuhuichen@xinhua.org)
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