Top 5 air cargo carriers that invest in greener skies

A growing number of carriers and freight forwarders have been implementing sustainability efforts to help reduce carbon emissions, including investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Over 300,000 flights from more than 45 airlines have used SAF since 2016, and over 100 million liters of SAF will be produced in 2021, according to an IATA report. Several combination carriers, such as British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines, are utilizing SAF for a portion of their passenger operations. In observance of Earth Day, however, we at Air Cargo World have identified five carriers that have invested in SAF specifically in support of their cargo operations to improve airfreight’s carbon footprint. 1. Amazon Air Amazon Air secured up to 6 million gallons of SAF over 12 months, supplied by Shell Aviation and produced by Boston-based biofuel supplier World Energy, in 2020. Amazon Air’s SAF fuel blend includes feedstock of inedible agricultural waste fats and oils, and can reduce carbon emissions by 20%, according to a July 2020 press release. [caption id="attachment_95376" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo courtesy of Lufthansa Cargo[/caption] 2. Lufthansa Cargo Lufthansa Cargo and German forwarder DB Schenker launched a freighter flight between Frankfurt (FRA) and Shanghai (PVG) whose fuel requirements are covered by SAF, according to a November 2020 press release. The carrier plans to offer greenhouse gas-neutral air freight as a regular product starting this summer. 3. American Air American Airlines and Kuehne+Nagel have agreed to partner on sustainability, where the forwarder will acquire SAF from the carrier, according to a March 9 announcement. The partnership covers 3 million gallons of SAF and will only be taking delivery of SAF at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), according to the two companies. 4. United Airlines United Airlines recently launched the Eco-Skies Alliance program for sustainable fuel use earlier this month, and collectively purchased approximately 4.3 million gallons of SAF this year. The SAF is supplied by Boston-based World Energy LLC, which has production facilities in Paramount, Calif. [caption id="attachment_95296" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo courtesy of United Airlines[/caption] Freight forwarders participating in the Eco-Skies Alliance program include DHL Global Forwarding, CEVA Logistics and DSV Panalpina, according to an April 13 press release. United Airlines also invested $30 million in California-based SAF producer Fulcrum BioEnergy in 2015 and continues to invest in various SAF development initiatives. 5. Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) welcomed Dutch-based sustainable cultivation solution company Koppert Biological Systems to its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program, according to an April 21 release. AFKLMP Cargo will use SAF on selected international cargo flights carrying Koppert’s agricultural and horticultural products. [caption id="attachment_95374" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo Courtesy of AFKLMP Cargo[/caption] Koppert is the first AFKLMP Cargo freight shipper to join the carrier’s SAF program, which aims to reduce transport-related carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. AFKLMP Cargo also partnered with Kuehne+Nagel in Q1 of 2021 to launch the first carbon-neutral airfreight lane between North America and Europe, according to a Jan. 12 release. The year-round transportation of all Kuehne+Nagel cargo from Los Angeles (LAX) to Amsterdam (AMS) will be fully covered by SAF. Dutch airline KLM has also partnered with renewable fuel company, Neste, to provide the carrier with SAF for flights out of AMS. KLM was an early leader in SAF investment and operated the first commercial flight using SAF in 2011, followed by Air France in the same year.

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