Romanian oil and gas company OMV Petrom will supply Cluj International Airport with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2025, supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions in air travel. Starting in January, all departing aircraft will use fuel with a 2% SAF blend. In the first two months, around 1,800 flights operated with this fuel.
OMV Petrom executive Radu Caprau emphasized that SAF is derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils and animal fats, processed into fuel with properties similar to conventional kerosene. The company is investing €750 million in its Petrobrazi refinery to begin SAF production in Romania by 2028.
Handling 3.3 million passengers in 2024, Cluj International Airport is Romania’s second-largest and has also introduced electric de-icing vehicles and an electric bus to enhance sustainability.
The ReFuelEU Aviation regulation mandates that all EU airports must include at least 2% SAF in fuel supplies starting in 2025, increasing to 6% by 2030. SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel and is a key part of aviation’s decarbonization strategy.
