VINCI Airports announces that Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport has achieved net zero carbon emissions and obtained international ACA 5 certification
- The airport has achieved net zero carbon emissions within its direct scope of activities.
- It is among the 25 most advanced airports in the world in terms of decarbonization.
- This achievement illustrates VINCI Airports' commitment to sustainable and innovative management of airport infrastructure and its contribution to the transition of its stakeholders.
VINCI Airports announces that Lyon Airport has achieved net zero emissions1, becoming the first airport in France with over 10 million passengers to reach this milestone as of May 2025, following Toulon Airport in 2023.
Lyon Airport's environmental action plan, driven by VINCI Airports, the airport's operator since 2016, has enabled a 94% reduction in the airport's direct CO2 emissions (scopes 1 and 2) between 2013 and 2024.
This was achieved through initiatives in the following areas:
- Electricity: Solar energy production for self-consumption, 100% LED lighting, and 100% green electricity (with guarantees of origin).
- Heating: Transition to 100% biogas (with guarantees of origin) and heat recovery from co-generation production (electricity generation from biogas).
- Fuels: Optimization and electrification of the airport's vehicle fleet.
- Air conditioning: Replacement of equipment, improved management, and prevention of refrigerant fluid leaks.
The net zero emissions target for 2026 was achieved one year ahead of schedule.
Lyon Airport is committed to maintaining this reduction over time by keeping its emissions below 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year and offsetting residual emissions through local reforestation projects certified under the Low Carbon Label. These projects, launched in 2021 and 2022 in partnership with the Rhône Department and the National Forestry Office (Office National des Forêts), are located in the northern Beaujolais region in France.
The ACA5 certification not only recognizes the efforts made to reduce Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport's direct emissions but also highlights the work accomplished in supporting all its stakeholders in decarbonizing their activities (Scope 3).
This commitment is reflected in several key initiatives:
- Development of photovoltaic plants: By 2025, 25 MWp will be operational, including 20 MWp injected into the grid to supply neighboring communities, avoiding nearly 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, and 5 MWp dedicated to self-consumption.
- Construction of hydrogen distribution stations: The first station, Hympulsion, designed for light vehicles, was inaugurated last June in collaboration with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
- Electrification of ground vehicle fleets: Installation of electric vehicle charging stations in airport parking lots, with 850 chargers to be operational by 2026.
- Landing fee modulation: Incentivizing the use of lower-emission aircraft.
- Distribution of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF): Starting in 2025, in compliance with the ReFuel EU regulation.
- Local production and supply of synthetic sustainable aviation fuels, thanks to the signing of a partnership with H2V and Hy2gen in early 2025.
Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer of Concessions at VINCI and President of VINCI Airports, states :
"In the air transport sector, our commitment is total, not only within our own sphere of activity, but also with our various stakeholders. With 60 airports accredited to the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program, including five airports2 at the maximum ACA 5 level (in France and Portugal), VINCI Airports is the leading international contributor to the ACI (Airports Council International) ACA program".
In the 14 countries where it operates more than 70 airports, VINCI Airports is committed to a decarbonization approach across its entire value chain. The company aims to achieve net zero emissions for its direct activities by 2030 within the European Union and the United Kingdom, and by 2050 in the rest of the world.
1 Within the scope of the airport's own emissions (Scopes 1 and 2).
2 Lyon-Saint Exupéry andToulon Hyères in France, Beja, Ponta Delgada and Madère in Portugal.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to launch an international environmental strategy back in 2016, aiming to achieve net zero direct emissions across its entire network by 2050, while also contributing — beyond its direct scope — to reducing the carbon footprint of its stakeholders and supporting the climate transition of the regions where it operates.
