Iberojet inaugurated flight from Spain to Costa Rica using sustainable fuel

Starting this Tuesday, the Spanish airline Iberojet began its flights from Madrid, Spain to the Juan Santamaría International Airport using sustainable fuel (SAF), with the aim of continuing the path towards decarbonization and contributing to reducing the effects of climate change.

With this flight from Madrid to San José, the Spanish airline launches the first phase of its implementation plan for the use of SAF, anticipating the legal obligations to use 2% of this type of fuel established for the year 2025.

“We thank Iberojet for choosing Costa Rica to carry out this first flight from Madrid with sustainable fuel, confirming that tourism and sustainability go hand in hand. What Iberojet does is consistent with the country's vision of Costa Rica, which is to base our tourism actions on the country's natural attractions to build a society with better living conditions, especially thinking about future generations," said William Rodríguez, minister. of Tourism.

For José Ignacio Lugo, deputy general director of Iberojet, “this is the beginning of our new ESG 2026 Strategy, led by Ávoris, in which Iberojet has as one of its priority objectives reducing the environmental impact of its activities thanks to the use of SAF on their journeys. For the airline, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a strategic priority. For this reason, we will follow all European Union (EU) regulations regarding the decarbonization of aviation and we will anticipate them whenever feasible.”

“Sustainability is the path we have set for operating the Juan Santamaría International Airport, but we are aware that, for the industry to generate a greater positive impact, it is important that the entire airport community have disruptive and replicable initiatives like this one. We are excited that airlines like Iberojet, in addition to being allies in providing pure life experiences for passengers, are also partners in their commitment to sustainability,” commented Ricardo Hernández, executive director of AERIS.

The flight chosen to begin the use of sustainable fuel took off this Tuesday, October 24, from Madrid to San José, Costa Rica and was carried out on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, built with lighter materials, more efficient engines and cabin configuration to reduce fuel consumption above most aircraft in its category. 

Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from raw materials of renewable origin and allows us to reduce approximately 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated in its life cycle compared to that of conventional fossil origin.

In addition, this aircraft model was designed with features that improve passenger comfort and reduce the effects of jetlag or time difference, thanks to the fact that it has a lower cabin pressure compared to other aircraft, LED lighting, better flight control. humidity, larger windows and a quieter cabin. 

With this flight, Iberojet launched the first phase of its implementation plan for the use of SAF, aligning itself with the programs, packages of measures and regulations developed within the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in aviation in at least 55% by 2030 and is ahead of the legal obligations to use 2% of this type of fuel established for 2025, demonstrating its commitment to the decarbonization of the sector. 

Iberojet flies to Costa Rica since July 2021 with two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

From Spain, more than 41,000 Spanish tourists have visited us by air from January to September 2023, making us our fourth largest source of travelers after Germany, France and the United Kingdom.