KLM Cityhopper Uses 5% Synthetic Kerosene Blend on Amsterdam Hamburg Service in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Milestone
(IN SHORT) KLM Cityhopper has operated a passenger flight between Amsterdam and Hamburg using a 5% blend of synthetic kerosene, or e-SAF, in collaboration with INERATEC, MB Energy and Hamburg Airport. The flight is the first passenger service to Germany using this type of fuel and follows KLM’s 2021 Amsterdam-Madrid flight, which was the first commercial passenger flight using synthetic kerosene. The e-SAF for the Hamburg flight was produced by INERATEC, blended with fossil kerosene by MB Energy and refuelled at Schiphol Airport. Synthetic sustainable aviation fuel is made using renewable electricity, carbon dioxide and water, and can reduce lifecycle emissions by more than 90% compared with fossil kerosene. KLM said the flight shows that e-SAF is technically possible, but also highlights the major challenge of availability, as only 200 litres were used for this flight compared with 500 litres in 2021. The airline supports Europe’s alternative fuel mandate but warned that the 2030 e-SAF sub-target remains difficult because large-scale production is not yet available, e-SAF is around four times more expensive than SAF and about eight times more expensive than conventional kerosene, and permitting and regulatory uncertainties remain barriers. KLM called for stronger cooperation between governments, industry and partners to scale up and reduce the cost of SAF and e-SAF.
(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTELVEEN, the Netherlands, 2026-Jun-8 — /Travel PR News/ — KLM Cityhopper has operated a passenger flight between Amsterdam and Hamburg using a 5% blend of synthetic kerosene, also known as e-SAF, in cooperation with INERATEC, MB Energy and Hamburg Airport. The flight marks the first passenger service to Germany operated with this type of fuel and demonstrates that flying with synthetic sustainable aviation fuel is technically feasible, even as the aviation sector continues to face challenges around supply, scalability and cost.
The synthetic kerosene used for the flight was produced by INERATEC, blended with conventional kerosene by MB Energy and refuelled into the aircraft at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Synthetic sustainable aviation fuel is produced using renewable electricity, carbon dioxide and water, and can reduce lifecycle emissions by more than 90% compared with fossil kerosene.
KLM previously operated the first commercial passenger flight using synthetic kerosene in 2021, on a service from Amsterdam to Madrid. At that time, 500 litres of e-SAF were blended for the flight. For the Amsterdam-Hamburg service, only 200 litres of e-SAF were available for blending, underlining the gap between current production levels and the aviation industry’s long-term ambitions for synthetic fuel use.
The airline supports the European mandate for alternative aviation fuels and will continue investing in measures to make aviation more sustainable. However, current production volumes show that meeting the European sub-target of a 1.2% e-SAF blend by 2030 will be difficult. KLM noted that only a small share of the e-SAF required under Europe’s 2030 mandate is currently in production.
Cost remains another major challenge. E-SAF is currently around four times more expensive than conventional SAF and approximately eight times more expensive than fossil kerosene. In addition, large-scale e-SAF production has not yet been established, while permitting procedures for construction and environmental approvals in Europe, along with uncertainty surrounding possible changes to ReFuelEU legislation, continue to influence investment conditions.
KLM said coordinated action from governments, industry and partners will be essential to accelerate the scale-up and affordability of alternative aviation fuels, including both SAF and e-SAF.
“As CEO of KLM and chair of Project SkyPower, I believe e-SAF can make a real difference in making aviation more sustainable. KLM already pioneered a passenger flight on e-SAF in 2021, from Amsterdam to Madrid. Today’s flight to Hamburg once again shows that flying on synthetic kerosene is technically possible. But the reality is that the availability of e-SAF lags far behind ambition. To truly make a difference, we must work together with governments, industry, and partners on scaling up and affordability in order to accelerate the sustainability of aviation,” said Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM.
Hamburg Airport highlighted its readiness to support the use of alternative aviation fuels through existing infrastructure and targeted incentives for airlines.
“Sustainably produced aviation fuels will play an important role in decarbonizing aviation in the coming years. Our infrastructure is fully ready, and we actively support airlines in the use of locally produced blends, including through targeted incentives. Today’s e-SAF flight marks an important milestone on the path toward lower CO₂ emissions through the use of alternative fuels,” said Christian Kunsch, Chairman of the Executive Board of Hamburg Airport.
INERATEC, which produced the synthetic kerosene for the flight, said the service demonstrates the operational readiness of power-to-liquid fuels.
“We are ready to deliver. Today’s flight, with our Chief Commercial Officer Maximilian Backhaus on board during a regular passenger service, clearly shows that power-to-liquid fuels are safe, available, and already operationally viable today. This is just the beginning of many applications we will see this year across various sectors,” said Tim Boeltken, Co-founder and CEO of INERATEC.
MB Energy said the operation showed how lower-carbon aviation fuels can be integrated into existing fuel supply infrastructure and aviation operations.
“Aviation has long been at the forefront of technological innovation. With this operation, together with KLM and Ineratec, we are showing how lower carbon aviation fuels can be integrated into existing infrastructure and operations. At MB Energy, we are laying the foundation today – preparing routes to market for new fuels, adapting our infrastructure, and ensuring stable supply lines. When our customers are ready, we can deliver what they need, when they need it,” said Jonathan Perkins, CEO at MB Energy.
The Amsterdam-Hamburg passenger flight represents another step in KLM’s work with partners to test, validate and promote the use of alternative aviation fuels. While the technical feasibility of e-SAF has been demonstrated, the airline emphasized that scaling production, improving affordability and creating stable policy and investment conditions remain essential for wider adoption.
Media contact:
mediarelations@klm.com
SOURCE: KLM
