From the 6th of May 2021, flights between Sønderborg and Copenhagen will be using a more sustainable fuel. Alsie Express is the first operator of a Danish domestic route to introduce flights using fuel that is produced from organic materials, such as residual oil from the food industry. It reduces the CO2 emission from the aircraft’s fuel consumption.
Per Have, CEO of Bitten & Mads Clausen’s Foundation and Chair of the Board of Sønderborg Airport, is enthusiastic about the initiative:
Bitten & Mads Clausen’s Foundation has invested in the ownership of the airport to support the sustainability of the local area. This is achieved, in part, by maintaining the infrastructure to ensure easy access to Sønderborg. The next step in sustainability is to reduce climate impact. We are 100% behind Alsie Express’ use of bio-based aviation fuel. It is a step in the right direction, and it makes Sønderborg the first domestic airport to reduce its climate impact from aviation fuel. We are proud of this.
Per Have, CEO of Bitten & Mads Clausen’s Foundation
About Alsie Express
The airline was established in 2013 and is responsible for the flight connection between Sønderborg and Copenhagen. For this, it uses two easily recognisable, black ATR72-500 aircraft. The aeroplanes are equipped with 64 or 48 comfortable seats, all with good leg space. There are normally five return flights each day on weekdays. Alsie Express is working to make the air connection the preferred mode of transport for travelers going between the Border Region, Greater Copenhagen and beyond, internationally.
Sønderborg Airport serves both business and non-business travelers from Southern Jutland. When Flight Number 6I-101 takes off on the 6th May at 7am from Sønderborg Airport, heading for Copenhagen, carrying its passengers and crew, it marks the beginning of a greener journey for Danish domestic flights.
The use of bio-based aviation fuel is the product of the collaboration between Alsie Express, Sønderborg Airport and DCC & Shell Aviation. The expectation is that this is the first step in a gradual reduction of a climate impact of Danish domestic flights in the future. Alsie Express is expecting to reduce its annual CO2 emissions resulting from flights between Sønderborg and Copenhagen by about 4% by means of the use of its new sustainable aviation fuel.
Up to now, Danish aviation has mainly compensated for its CO2 emissions by means of EU-ETS taxes and by purchasing carbon credits. With the introduction of more sustainable aviation fuel, we are making direct efforts to reducing the emissions from the flights. This is admittedly a very small, but still a significant step towards reducing the CO2 emissions from our domestic flights. We are already flying ATR 72 aircraft which are some of the most environmentally friendly regional aeroplanes on the market.
Dennis Rybasch, Executive Director of Alsie Express
First steps on the way to zero-emission
The new aviation fuel is delivered by DCC & Shell Aviation, who already supply Danish airports with fuel. Executive Director Ulrik V. Brendstrup views the initiative in Sønderborg Airport as a good example of how Danish aviation in the coming years will move towards a more sustainably produced aviation fuel.
In association with Alsie Express and Sønderborg Airport, we are taking the first steps towards a more sustainable future for aviation. These are important steps because they place more sustainable aviation fuel on the agenda in Denmark. We are looking forward to when it will become a reality to fly between the various parts of the country using zero-emission aviation fuel. Right now, we are seeing bio-based aviation fuel as a means of cutting down on the climate footprint caused by the flight traffic.
Ulrik V. Brendstrup, Executive Director DCC & Shell Aviation
In the future, DCC & Shell Aviation also expects to be able to supply Danish airports and airlines with sustainable aviation fuel made from the byproducts from Danish waste treatment plants through the HTL (Hydrothermal Liquefaction) project in Aalborg. Ulrik V. Brendstrup also expects that pure hydrogen-based fuel will be available for aviation before 2030.
About DCC & Shell Aviation
DCC & Shell Aviation is a joint venture between DCC Holding Denmark and Shell’s global business for aviation fuel. The company is responsible for all logistics and supply of Shell aviation fuel to seven Danish airports and is the largest single fuel supplier to aviation in Denmark.
The enhanced sustainable aviation fuel in Sønderborg Airport is made by the Finnish company Neste, which is one of the world leaders in the development of bio-based fuel. The fuel is officially named ‘Neste My Renewable Jet Fuel’ and is certified by the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) and reduces the CO2 emissions of aviation fuel by up to 80% compared to fossil derived aviation fuel. Shell Aviation already supplies companies such as Amazon, DHL Express and Lufthansa with the same type of sustainable aviation fuel now being introduced on the Sønderborg-Copenhagen route.
