KLM and Microsoft join forces to advance sustainable air travel

Today KLM and Microsoft signed a Letter of Intent in Washington to explore cooperation focused on sustainable air travel. The agreement includes commitment to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which has the potential to reduce up to 80 percent of CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuel, across the lifecycle, when used on a large scale. Building on KLM’s Corporate BioFuel Program, Microsoft will purchase an amount of SAF equivalent to all flights taken by Microsoft employees between the USA and Netherlands (and vice versa) on KLM and Delta Air Lines.

“Now Microsoft and KLM join forces, we have a real window of opportunity to accelerate the development of sustainable air travel. Starting in 2009, KLM has been stimulating the development of a market for sustainable aviation fuel. KLM believes that medium- and long-term production of sustainable aviation fuel is extremely important for the airline industry to achieve its carbon dioxide reduction goals. Together with partners like Microsoft we can make this a reality so much sooner.” Boet Kreiken, EVP Customer Experience

In addition, Microsoft and KLM intend to explore areas of cooperation that would further improve sustainability and reduce emissions associated with air travel. Our joint aim is to provide a blueprint that will engage other corporations to stimulate the demand for sustainable air travel solutions and achieve ambitions to address their carbon footprint within their own supply chain.

“Small changes can have a big impact when it comes to climate change, especially when those changes are made by large global corporations. Since 2012, Microsoft employee travel has been carbon neutral. We’ve also taken steps to encourage the use of collaborative work tools, like Teams, to reduce the need to travel. Today represents a step change, where we’re moving beyond our employee impact, towards using our influence to drive industry-wide shifts reducing air travel emissions.” Eric Bailey, Microsoft’s Global Travel Director

Fly Responsibly
KLM and Microsoft’s partnership fits in perfectly with KLM’s Fly Responsibly initiative. Fly Responsibly shows KLM’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future for the airline industry. It includes everything KLM is doing now and in the future to improve the sustainability of its operations. However, only when the entire sector works together can we make real progress. As part of the Fly Responsibly campaign, KLM invites its customers to use its carbon compensation program and asks companies to compensate for their business travel by taking part in the KLM Corporate BioFuel Program.