Dive Brief:
- United Airlines has signed a deal with renewable and circular solutions company Neste, which will provide the Chicago-based airline with up to 1 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel through the end of the year, the companies announced Wednesday.
- The SAF will be utilized for United flights departing from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, one of the largest airports in the country. The first supply of this is expected to arrive in August and will be blended with conventional jet fuel, according to Neste.
- The deal builds on United’s goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a target the airline claims it was the first to set in its industry. The company previously said it will do so by “taking the harder, better path of actually reducing emissions from flying,” without relying on voluntary carbon offsets.
Dive Insight:
United’s SAF arrangement for flights operating from Chicago — the airline’s home turf — is the latest deal it has signed with Neste to decarbonize its carbon footprint. Neste previously committed to supply the airline with 1.5 million gallons of SAF for flights departing from San Francisco International Airport in 2023, following a 2022 agreement that committed to a 2.5 million gallons supply of SAF to be used by United at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands.
Overall, United said it has purchased SAF for flights operating out of five cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Amsterdam and, most recently, Chicago.
“While the market for SAF is still in its infancy, there is a huge opportunity today for airlines and policymakers to work together to support its continued growth,” United President Brett Hart said in a release.
Neste’s SAF aims to be a direct replacement for fossil jet fuel, reducing emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel, according to the company’s website. The company, which specializes in sustainable fuels and renewable feedstock solutions, said its SAF is made from 100% renewable raw materials and is compatible with existing aircraft engines and fuel infrastructure at airports.
“[The deal] underlines our commitment to supporting the U.S. aviation industry in its efforts to decarbonize,” Alexander Kueper, vice president of Neste’s renewable aviation business said in the release.
Kueper said Neste seeks to continue supporting United in its journey of slashing emissions and expanding their partnership at other airports globally.
