500,000 fueling transactions. Zero paper. One connected network: aFuel sets new H1 2026 record

Information Design One AG, the Frankfurt-based aviation technology company behind the aFuel platform, has achieved a major operational milestone. During the first half of 2026, aFuel processed 500,000 individual aircraft fueling transactions, all executed digitally, in real time and entirely paper-free. The achievement marks a new record for the platform and further reinforces aFuel's position as the world's leading digital fueling network for commercial aviation, delivering measurable efficiency gains for airlines worldwide.

What half a million fueling transactions mean for airlines

For airlines, the impact is tangible. Faster digital information exchange helps reduce fueling-related delays, while accurate real-time data supports more informed fuel management and tankering decisions. Automated invoice matching streamlines back-office processes, and every transaction enriches the platform’s growing data ecosystem, providing valuable insights that help airlines and fuel suppliers continuously optimize operations.

Behind each transaction lies a connected network of stakeholders: dispatch system providers integrated with the aFuel platform, into-plane agents carrying out fuel services on the ramp, and airlines relying on seamless digital coordination to keep their operations running efficiently. Reaching 500,000 transactions in a single half-year underscores both the scale of the network and the accelerating industry shift toward fully digital fueling processes.

Julia Büchner, CEO of Information Design One AG commented: “Processing 500,000 fueling transactions in just six months represents far more than a performance metric. It reflects 500,000 instances where airlines received verified, time-stamped digital fueling records instead of relying on paper documentation. It means fuel volumes, delivery times and uplift confirmations were exchanged instantly between airlines and into-plane agents, eliminating manual communication, paperwork and reconciliation challenges.500,000 flights is a number that should give the entire aviation fueling industry pause. Not because it is large, though it is, but because of what it proves: that digitalizing aviation fueling works, at scale, across airlines, agents and systems that were never designed to talk to each other. aFuel did not reach this milestone because we built clever software. We reached it because the right partners chose to trust in the network and develop it further with us. Every new station that goes live, every new partner that connects, multiplies the value for everyone already connected to the network. 500,000 is a milestone. But it is not a destination. We are just getting started and expect to reach over 1 million fueling transactions by the end of this year.”

A network powered by collaboration

The record-setting performance achieved in the first half of 2026 reflects more than transaction volume. It demonstrates the strength of the ecosystem that underpins the aFuel platform. By connecting airlines, into-plane agents and IT dispatch system providers within a unified digital environment, aFuel creates value for every participant each time a new partner joins the network.

IT dispatch system providers play a pivotal role by enabling the seamless, real-time exchange of fueling data across stations worldwide. Into-plane agents contribute the operational expertise and local presence that airlines rely on to ensure consistent, high-quality fueling services. Airlines, ranging from major international carriers to regional low-cost operators, drive network adoption and create opportunities for further expansion among service providers and fueling partners.

This virtuous cycle continues to accelerate growth. As the network expands, so too does transaction volume. The recent launch of four stations in Portugal through the collaboration with ebits and Petrogal is a clear example of how new integrations immediately strengthen the platform's reach and utility. The milestone of 500,000 fueling transactions in H1 2026 is the direct outcome of this growing network effect and the increasing industry's shift toward digital fueling operations.

Looking ahead: sustained global growth

Information Design One AG is maintaining its growth trajectory throughout the second half of 2026, with additional station launches planned across Europe and other key aviation markets. The company is actively engaging with new airline customers, IT dispatch system providers and into-plane agents to further expand the network while enhancing the depth and quality of its operational data capabilities.

The objective remains straightforward: connect more airports, onboard more partners and process more transactions. For airlines, that translates into fewer fueling delays, reduced administrative workload and access to richer operational insights that support smarter, data-driven decision-making. As digitalization continues to reshape aviation ground operations, aFuel is positioned to remain at the forefront of this transformation.