KLM expressed its support for the recommendation in the report “The Road to Future Prosperity,” authored by Wennink, which proposes the creation of a national Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) fund. The airline believes this measure would allow the Netherlands to accelerate the production of alternative fuels and improve their accessibility, thus contributing to the sustainability of the aviation sector. The company emphasized that progress will only be possible if the government takes a more active role and if the industry works collaboratively with the authorities.

The company endorsed the report’s conclusions regarding the essential role of aviation and Schiphol Airport in the country’s economic prosperity. According to KLM, international connectivity is fundamental to Dutch trade, employment, and innovation. Therefore, the airline argued that the government’s focus should be on investments that strengthen the sector, rather than additional restrictions or new national taxes that would negatively impact the country’s competitiveness.

KLM stated that it is investing significantly in cleaner operations, more efficient aircraft, and increased use of sustainable fuels. It noted that SAF can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 65% over its lifecycle and that the airline uses more SAF than required by European regulations. Furthermore, it has a long-term agreement to develop the first SAF production plant in the Netherlands, located in Delfzijl. However, it pointed out that widespread use of SAF will only be viable if the fuel becomes more affordable and if there is sufficient availability to meet the national target of a 14% blend by 2030.

KLM CEO Marjan Rintel stated that a national SAF fund would allow the government and industry to collaborate to accelerate the transition. She emphasized that public participation, similar to what has happened with wind and solar energy, can make a decisive difference to the scale of production and the price of sustainable fuel. The airline insisted that this approach would position the Netherlands as a European leader in sustainable aviation.

The creation of the fund is consistent with European energy transition initiatives, including the STIP program. According to KLM, a SAF fund should focus on three pillars: making SAF more affordable through incentives; improving access to raw materials and removing barriers to building new infrastructure; and investing in innovation for next-generation SAF and eSAF technologies. The company also indicated that the fund could be financed using revenue from the current aviation tax.

KLM concluded that a national fund would allow the country to lead the expansion of SAF, ensure the competitiveness of the Dutch aviation sector, and maintain the viability of the target of achieving 14% sustainable fuel use by 2030.

Source and Credits to KLM

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