Pioneering sustainable aviation at SEA Milan Airports

You have just announced a project to build a green hydrogen station at Malpensa Airport. Tell us more about this and when it will be operational.

Next year, we’ll have an electrolyser producing hydrogen at Malpensa Airport. We considered what to do with this hydrogen and decided to conduct trials on transportation, starting with the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026. Partnering with Edison Next, we’re building a hydrogen refuelling station near the cargo area, scheduled to be ready by 2026, shortly after the electrolyser goes live, thanks to the EU-funded OLGA Project.

In the short-term, sustainable aviation fuel has been highlighted as a key focus area for the industry. What is SEA Milan doing in this space?

Airports and airlines share a common goal: to reduce aviation-related emissions. We need to move away from fossil fuels toward sustainable alternatives like SAF or hydrogen. SAF is crucial in the short-term for achieving the EU’s 2030 targets. Last year, we launched a SAF remuneration scheme, offering airlines €500 per ton of pure SAF used for flights departing from our airports. This initiative anticipates the upcoming RefuelEU mandate, which will require 2% SAF blending in Jet A-1 fuel starting next year. While airports may seem to have limited leverage, we play a significant role as co-ordinators in these sustainability efforts.

What are the challenges for airports in supplying the SAF infrastructure?

There aren’t significant infrastructure challenges for SAF. Since 2021, we’ve been working on establishing a reliable supply chain, culminating in a framework agreement with ENI. This ensures that SAF is available at both our airports, allowing airlines to refuel with SAF-blended Jet A-1 since 2022. The real challenge will come with hydrogen infrastructure.

SEA Milan launched a SAF remuneration scheme in 2023 offering airlines €500 per ton of pure SAF used for flights departing from its airports. Credit: SEA Milan

Tell us about the eMago project as you presented this to the European Parliament at the end of last year.

We were honoured to present the eMAGO project, which stands for the electrification of Malpensa ground operation. Supported by the EU’s Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facilities (AFIF), this project is a best-case example in Europe. The funding allows us to expedite capital-intensive investments that otherwise wouldn’t be feasible in the short term. eMAGO will establish recharging stations airside and in car parks at both Linate and Malpensa airports, incentivising and facilitating the transition to electric ground support equipment (GSE) by our ground handlers, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles by passengers. This project is a key step in reducing Scope 3 emissions related to ground operations and airport accessibility, because if the passenger knows they will have the facility at the airport, close to the terminal, to recharge their electric car, they will be encouraged to travel the airport by electric car.

In 2023, the direct carbon footprint of Milan Airport system was reduced by 37.4% compared to the previous year, which is a great achievement. What did you do to achieve this number?

We’ve made significant strides towards electrification and sustainable transportation solutions. For airports, most CO2 emissions under direct control come from energy use – specifically, electricity and heat consumption (Scope 2). Our long-term energy strategy focuses on two main pillars: reducing energy demand through efficiency initiatives and increasing the use of renewable energy sources, such as on-site solar plants, power purchase agreements (PPA) and guarantees of origin. These efforts are key to reducing our Scope 2 emissions.

In 2023, the same year, you reached your 2019 passenger numbers with 35.3 million passengers. How do you see passenger numbers going forward for 2024 and beyond?

We’re optimistic, projecting an 8% increase in 2024, which should bring us to 38 million passengers across the Milan system – 28 million at Malpensa and 10 million at Linate. While Linate’s growth is capped, we expect Malpensa to grow more. However, challenges like geopolitical instability, such as the current situation in the Middle East, could impact these numbers. We hope for peaceful resolutions to support continued growth.

When thinking about growth in passenger numbers and long-term growth, do you think airports can truly be sustainable whilst expanding their operations?

We’re striving to be a sustainable airport, addressing not just CO2 emissions but also noise pollution. For instance, we’ve approved new take-off routes at Malpensa, which, according to our simulations, will reduce noise impact. Additionally, we’re awaiting regulatory approval for a new passenger charging structure based on ‘the polluter-pays’ principle. Airlines with older, noisier aircraft will pay more, while more environmentally friendly airlines will pay less. This structure will help reduce the environmental impact of our airports.

About the interviewee

Alessandro Fidato

Alessandro began his career in high-speed railway construction and later contributed to Rome Airport (ADR) master planning development. Head of Transport Infrastructures at Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A. from 2002 to 2010, he then assumed key roles at Naples International Airport, culminating in his current positions as Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager for SEA Milan Airports since 2019. Alessandro’s career reflects a trajectory of strategic leadership and significant contributions to the aviation and transportation industry as member of EASA SAB and Board Member of SESAR3 JU.