US combination carriers, Amazon expand SAF commitments at UN event

The Sustainable Aviation Buyer Alliance (SABA) has expanded to include the Aviators Group, several U.S. carriers whose objective is to lower the cost of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and ramp up their supply. The alliance between the two organizations was announced last week at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26). [caption id="attachment_95296" align="alignright" width="450"] Photo courtesy of United Airlines[/caption] The Aviators Group, whose members include Alaska Airlines, Amazon Air, JetBlue, and United Airlines, said the goal of their members is to "drive investment in high-integrity sustainable aviation fuels and accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions air transport." The addition of the Aviators Group signals the industry’s determination to boost SAF production, lower prices and encourage technological innovation, according to SABA. "Sustainable aviation fuels are critical to decarbonizing aviation and to Alaska's path to reach net-zero by 2040," Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines said in a statement. "But production and supply are not yet where our industry needs them to be, and that's why we must work together to build a robust market for SAF." Currently, global air travel accounts for 2.5% of CO2 emissions, according to SABA. The use of high-integrity SAF represents less than 0.1% of global aviation fuel due to insufficient, disaggregated demand and cost barriers. Individually, members of the Aviators Group have already started investing in a greener aviation future through sustainability initiatives at their respective airlines. Earlier this year, United launched its Eco-Skies Alliance program to reduce the aviation-related impact on the environment through the collective purchase of approximately 3.4 million gallons of SAF in 2021. Last year, Amazon Air secured up to six million gallons of SAF supplied by Shell Aviation and produced by World Energy. Amazon trialed SAF on two flights originating from Washington to Arizona and Connecticut. Alaska Airlines burns roughly 750 million gallons of fuel every year, according to the company. To help reduce emissions, it has finalized orders of 120 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft. MAX aircraft is 22% more fuel-efficient on a seat-by-seat basis, according to the airline. Buying the new planes allows Alaska Airlines to retire the older, less efficient Airbus A319s and A320s. JetBlue, which operates an all-narrowbody fleet comprised of 130 A320-200s, 75 A321-200s, and 60 ERJs, said its new Airbus A320s with New Engine Option (A320neo), reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy by 15% through newly designed engine technology and cabin changes. In a recent sustainable aviation fuels fact sheet, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that SAF could contribute about 65% of the reduction in emissions needed for aviation to reach net zero in 2050. To achieve that goal, IATA estimates the industry would need to use 449 billion liters (118.6 million gallons) of SAF.

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