DHL Express is deepening its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its airfreight operations in France with a new partnership with TotalEnergies. The two companies have signed a renewable one-year agreement covering the supply of five million liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for aircraft operating from DHL's hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

This is the first SAF supply agreement of its kind for an express cargo carrier at Paris airport. It also marks the start of a new phase in DHL Express France’s drive to incorporate lower-carbon energy solutions into its international transport network.

TotalEnergies will supply 5 million liters of SAF over 12 months under the first agreement, supporting flights taking off from the CDG hub. On the day of the initiative’s announcement, the first DHL aircraft with the sustainable fuel took off from the airport.

For TotalEnergies, the partnership is a reflection of the growing importance of alternative aviation fuels in the industry’s transition to lower emissions. Mathieu Soulas, Director of New Mobilities at TotalEnergies, said: “TotalEnergies is committed to helping aviation operators reduce their carbon footprint. SAF is an immediately available solution to cut aviation-related emissions.

He also highlighted the industrial dimension of this transition, with sustainable aviation fuels responding to customers’ decarbonization goals and the transformation of TotalEnergies’ refining operations. “This agreement strengthens the relationship between the two companies and shows their shared ambition to accelerate SAF production and adoption,” Soulas said. "This was a growth market coming on, it was good for aviation, it was good for industry," he said.

SAF incorporated into DHL’s global aviation strategy

The agreement also supports DHL Group’s wider ambition to reduce emissions across its express transport network and help customers cut the indirect emissions of their logistics activities.

Travis Cobb, Executive Vise President Global Network Operations and Aviation at DHL Express, said, “This is another important milestone for DHL Express’ global decarbonization program.

“SAF made up 10% of the aviation fuel used across DHL’s own aircraft fleet in 2025, reinforcing the group’s position in driving more sustainable logistics and aviation operations,” he said.

The launch of SAF at Paris CDG is of particular importance to DHL Express France. "Opening our Paris Charles de Gaulle hub five years ago was a major step in our development in the French market," said Philippe Prétat, CEO of DHL Express France.

The facility has hit another milestone with the addition of sustainable aviation fuel now. By becoming the first express operator to use SAF at Paris CDG Airport, DHL wants to demonstrate that high-performance international logistics operations can be compatible with a reduction in environmental impact.

Prétat also underlined the need to support French companies engaged in international trade and in the transformation of the transport and logistics sector.

Flights link four European and international hubs

The environmental benefits of the deal are expected to be tremendous. DHL says the use of SAF in its French operations will help to avoid some 11,800 metric tons of CO2e emissions annually.

The fuel will be used to power planes leaving from the Paris Charles de Gaulle hub for four destinations within DHL’s air network: Leipzig, Casablanca, Milan and London.

The links are part of the company’s international express cargo operations, so the introduction of SAF at CDG is a significant development for its wider European network.

The initiative is part of a decarbonization strategy that DHL Express France has been building for several years, with investments into alternative transport technologies and lower emission delivery solutions.

A broader transition to sustainable aviation fuel

In France, DHL’s environmental program goes beyond its aircraft fleet. The company also states that it was the first express operator in the country to begin using cargo tricycles in 2005, a move that shows its early commitment to alternative delivery methods.

"More recently, its strategy has been focused on vehicle electrification. DHL Express France now runs a fully electric fleet of light commercial vehicles owned by the company, in line with DHL Group’s global ambition to electrify two-thirds of its last-mile delivery operations by 2030.

The company operates low-emission delivery services in 55 city centers in France. These operations include deliveries by foot, bicycle and cargo tricycle, reducing dependence on conventional motorized transport in urban areas.

Another aspect of the strategy is to reduce unnecessary delivery journeys by working with parcel collection and drop-off points. DHL Express France also partners with innovative start-ups to develop additional solutions that can improve delivery efficiency and reduce transport-related emissions.

The new agreement with TotalEnergies forms part of a wider transformation that covers aviation fuel, road transport and urban distribution. DHL Express France is looking to reduce the carbon footprint of its logistics activities more holistically by combining SAF-powered flights with electric commercial vehicles and alternative last-mile delivery methods.