Volotea collaborates with several suppliers – Moeve (formerly CEPSA), Repsol, and Enilive – to drive the development of SAF, utilizing over one million liters of this sustainable fuel between 2022 and 2023.
BARCELONA – Volotea, the airline connecting small and medium-sized European cities, continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental sustainability in aviation through its Voloterra program, which is built upon five pillars: an efficient connectivity model; reducing CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometer; increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF); a commitment to innovation and development; and transparency and verification.
This strategy allowed Volotea to become the first airline to pass a rigorous audit conducted by Bureau Veritas, a world-leading organization in testing, inspection, and certification services. This achievement was reaffirmed this year and for the third consecutive time (2021, 2022, and 2023) by the auditor, positioning the airline as a benchmark in the ambitious transition to a more environmentally conscious approach to aviation. At the end of 2023, the latest Bureau Veritas audit verified that the airline had reduced fuel consumption emissions per passenger-kilometer by 46.2% compared to 2012. This confirms that Volotea continues to make progress toward its goal of reducing direct CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometer by 50% by 2030, although it is expected to reach this target four to five years ahead of schedule.
Since its founding in 2012, Volotea has implemented more than 50 transformative initiatives aimed at reducing fuel consumption year after year, promoting a more environmentally responsible business model.
According to Gloria Carreras, ESG Director at Volotea: “At Volotea, we are making continuous progress towards the decarbonization of aviation – an essential goal for the future of an industry crucial to economic and social development. Reducing CO₂ emissions in the aviation sector is one of the greatest challenges we face, which is why we have made it a strategic priority. As an airline connecting over 100 European cities, we are fully aware of our impact. This is why we prioritize direct, non-stop flights, allowing us to avoid 68% of the additional flight time associated with connecting flights, thereby reducing the CO₂ emissions linked to fuel consumption. Our recent success in the Bureau Veritas audit further reinforces our commitment to environmentally responsible aviation.”
Voloterra: A Five-Pillar Plan
Volotea’s sustainability strategy focuses on five key areas:
- An efficient connectivity model: Volotea operates only direct, non-stop routes, avoiding 68% of the additional flight time associated with connecting flights, which results in lower CO₂ emissions from fuel consumption. Maximizing seat occupancy on scheduled flights is another highlight of its unique business model, which has maintained an average load factor of 90% since 2018, reaching 91% in 2023. Additionally, over 93% of Volotea’s flights cannot be reached by train in less than six hours. Among the nearly 450 routes Volotea offers in 2024, only one route (Madrid-Murcia) can be completed by train in less than four hours.
- Reduction of CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometer: Since its inception, the airline has implemented over 50 initiatives to reduce fuel consumption through aircraft maintenance and operations. Thanks to an agreement with Airbus, Volotea successfully integrated the aircraft manufacturer’s Descent Profile Optimization (DPO) fuel-saving system across its entire fleet this year. Since its initial implementation in 2019, the system has helped the airline reduce up to 958 tons of CO₂. Additionally, in early 2024, Volotea began using Skywise, a predictive maintenance system that optimizes fleet performance and ensures operational integrity.
- Increase in the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Volotea has been integrating SAF into its fleet since 2022, utilizing over 1 million liters of this sustainable fuel between 2022 and 2023. Since September 2022, Volotea has maintained an agreement with Airbus to operate its shuttle between Hamburg and Toulouse with SAF levels significantly higher than the industry average- reaching an average of 12% in 2023. Volotea also collaborates with suppliers such as Moeve, Repsol, and Enilive in Italy to promote SAF development and production using circular raw materials.
- Commitment to innovation and development: Volotea has invested in Dovetail Electric Aviation, a company making significant progress in the development of the first commercial electric aircraft.
- Transparency and verification: The participation of Bureau Veritas as an independent external entity auditing Voloterra highlights the airline’s commitment to reducing its direct CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometer and advancing toward the decarbonization of the industry.
Volotea is firmly convinced that progress in sustainability will be achieved through collaboration among all key industry stakeholders. For this reason, it actively collaborates with associations and organizations in the sector, participating in sustainability working groups such as those of IATA, A4E, ALA, and Aicalf, to collectively advance shared sustainability goals.
The Voloterra program and Volotea’s efforts toward sustainability were recognized in the 2023 edition of The Norns Awards, where the airline received the award for the “Most Sustainable Low-Cost Aviation Company.” This international program celebrates innovators and changemakers shaping the future of their industries.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
