SWISS Pioneers the use of Synhelion’s Solar Fuel in Flight Operations

SWISS has become the first airline to integrate solar fuel manufactured by Swiss-based clean-tech pioneer Synhelion into their flight operations, marking a milestone for both partners on the journey to more sustainable aviation.

Left to right: Cabin Crew Member SWISS, SWISS’ CEO, Jens Fehlinger, Synhelion’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Dr. Philipp Furler, and a SWISS Pilot – Courtesy SWISS

 On Thursday (July 24, 2025), Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) announced that they have become the first airline in the world to integrate the solar fuel manufactured by Swiss-based clean-tech pioneer Synhelion into their regular flight operations.  Alternative fuels such as Synhelion’s solar fuel are critical to the industry’s ambitious carbon reduction objectives. Synhelion delivered the first 190-liter barrel of synthetic crude oil from their DAWN production facility to a refinery in Northern Germany, where the oil, which had been manufactured using solar energy, was processed into certified Jet-A-1 aviation fuel.

In Thursday’s announcement, SWISS’ CEO, Jens Fehlinger, said,

“This first delivery of Synhelion’s solar fuel marks a genuine milestone in our long-standing partnership.  We have intentionally invested in a Swiss start-up; and we are delighted to celebrate this landmark achievement together.  This is the first time that solar fuel has been used in civil aviation.  And we are truly proud to be playing such a pioneering role, in partnership with Synhelion, in driving and developing this vital new technology for a more sustainable aviation sector.”

Also commenting on the new SAF partnership, Synhelion’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Philipp Furler, added,

“Sustainable fuels are a key lever in reducing air transport’s reliance on fossil fuels.  Our delivery of this first barrel to SWISS may be a symbolic action. But it’s a concrete one, too, towards a more sustainable aviation sector.  This milestone brings us one step closer to globally scaling up our solar fuel technology.  And we’re very grateful to have such invaluable support from our partners at SWISS and the Lufthansa Group as we continue on this journey.”

Swiss International Air Lines has Become the First Airline in the World to Integrate the Solar Fuel Manufactured by Swiss-based Clean-tech Pioneer Synhelion into their Regular Flight Operations - Courtesy SWISS

This solar-generated SAF was then fed into SWISS’ flight operations infrastructure via the fuel supply system at Hamburg Airport, making up around seven percent of the fuel required for a Hamburg-Zurich flight, marking a symbolic, but hugely significant start.  This confirms that Synhelion’s technology works and is ready for the next steps ahead.  The fuel’s seamless integration into existing refinery processes is crucial to securing the swift global scalability of Synhelion’s technology.  SWISS has been an investor in Synhelion since 2022, and has been serving as a strategic partner to the company since 2020, supporting the commercialization of their pioneering technologies.

Source: Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)