FAQs - Avikor

We solve your doubts

How does air transport affect greenhouse gas emissions?

According to the European Parliament, air transport of people and goods has increased greenhouse gas emissions by almost 130% in the first two decades of the 21st century.

An example provided by the European Commission: each traveler on a flight between London and New York generates the same level of emissions as a domestic heater for a whole year.

The main challenge for this industry is to reduce its environmental impact without harming the travelers who fly, so now more than ever, the main companies and agents in the sector are making great efforts to incorporate measures that improve the efficiency of their operations.

What are biofuels? Do they pose a threat to the food crisis?

Aviation biofuels are second generation fuels made from organic waste such as sawdust, agricultural or forestry waste, urban waste, plastics, recycled oils, etc.

The use of these fuels is completely safe and reliable. Its chemical composition is identical to that of conventional kerosene of extractive and fossil origin, so that both fuels – indistinguishable from each other – can be mixed and burned in the aircraft engine without any problem. The manufacture and use of sustainable aviation fuel follows a virtuous circular economy scheme.

If sustainable fuels are so good, why aren't they being massively used??

The use of sustainable aviation fuel has not spread massively yet because the cost of sustainable fuel is, today, more expensive than that of fossil fuel (between three and five times more expensive).

At Avikor we work hand in hand with our customers and partners to promote the production and distribution of sustainable fuels worldwide and achieve economies of scale that allow the product to be made cheaper, progressively reducing the price difference with conventional kerosene.

What are the benefits of sustainable flights?

Air transport has meant democratic access to global mobility that has reached all social strata. This advantage, citizen and business opportunity for operators, has also resulted over time in an increase in  CO2 emissions. The aeronautical industry has made changes both in the efficiency of aircraft and in their operating systems, considering that, according to IATA, by 2050 emissions will have been reduced to half their 2005 levels.

Once the improvement of aircraft efficiency has been taken to the limit, the other fundamental factor for reducing emissions is the technological improvement of fuels, as is the case of Avikor, focusing on a fundamental aspect that had not been addressed until now: the life cycle of the emissions of the fuel used by the aircraft.

In parallel, governments are studying tax measures and restriction of “close proximity” flights. The current reality is that airlines that know how to adapt to the new requirements of a market that are increasingly committed to continuing to do the same, but without environmental cost, will survive. Leadership is needed to incentivize the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels and it is needed now. That is why Avikor puts in the hands of travelers and companies an empowering instrument for an active commitment that does not know of deadlines or horizons but, from the present, looks to take care of the future.

What is Avikor's mission?

Avikor was born to universalize a more sustainable way of flying, contributing to improve our planet in a responsible way and without giving up the advantages of flying. Avikor seeks to generalize the use of sustainable aviation fuel by achieving economies of scale, extending its geographical availability and involving individuals, companies, airlines and travel agencies in the sustainable improvement of the planet.

Avikor is technology, logistics and circular economy at the service of aviation, so that flying is not synonymous with depleting fossil resources and tomorrow we can continue to fly responsibly, without damaging the environment.

How does Avikor work?

Any traveler – individual or company – can request to replace part or all of the SAF fuel (aviation biofuel) necessary to cover their journey.

The SAF is entered on demand the day you fly, regardless of the company you fly with.

In other words: when you ask for the list of flights that use it, the answer is that all (100%) of the flights that take off from Madrid and Barcelona are eligible to fly with SAF. Each day, the SAF is introduced to the airports according to the demand of customers who have purchased the SAF with Avikor (provided they have purchased the SAF well in advance of the flight date).

An example:

1. You buy any plane ticket, on a regular basis, at your usual company (originating from Madrid or Barcelona airport).

2. Subsequently, you enter your flight details on the Avikor.com website and purchase the SAF (you can pay more or less depending on the section of the journey you want to verify). This SAF purchase on Avikor.com, at the latest, must be made before 16:00 on the day prior to the flight date (otherwise, there is no time to manage the physical movement of the fuel). After purchase, you will receive a certificate detailing the SAF that you have purchased and that will be charged on the day of your flight.

3. We physically introduce the liters of SAF at the corresponding airport on the day of your flight. AENOR, as an external entity, certifies the entire process (purchasing and logistics).

A more specific example:

1. Today, August 26, a person buys a flight from Madrid to Paris, with any airline, making the outward journey on September 15.

2. After purchasing the flight, you have until the day before (September 14 at 4:00 p.m.) to buy SAF for the mentioned flight, entering your details on the Avikor website.

3. On the day of the flight, September 15, Avikor introduces the SAF that corresponds to your purchase for that flight at the Madrid-Barajas Airport. You will receive an email, that same day, confirming that the SAF has been loaded.

How do you calculate how much I emit when traveling by plane?

Although it can depend on several factors (airplane model, level of occupancy, wind in favor or against it, etc.), the  CO2 emitted on a route depends fundamentally on the distance traveled. The greater the distance, the greater the amount of fuel required, higher  CO2 emissions.

Avikor uses a standard value of unit consumption (liters of fuel per passenger and kilometer traveled) provided by the ICAO, thus determining the fuel required to cover a certain route, as well as the emissions associated with it.

How do I know that sustainable aviation fuel has been loaded?

With each ticket in which you include Avikor, you will receive an Avikor certificate confirming the amount of sustainable fuel used and the  CO2 emissions avoided. In addition, you can check the status of your purchase in the Status section of your Avikor.

Are there other ways to travel by air sustainably?

Things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling by plane:

  • Reduce your luggage.
  • Avoid transfers.
  • Choose airlines with less impact.
  • Look for companies that mitigate both the impact of their travelers and their own business operations.
  • Use the airport closest to your home and the one closest to your final destination. And if they make environmental efforts, the better.
  • Reuse plastic whenever possible. Supports research and development for greener aviation.