The airline aims to use around 10 million gallons of SAF in 2023, a significant increase from previous years. United's Chief Sustainability Officer, Lauren Riley, emphasized the airline's commitment to expanding SAF use and investing in producers utilizing various sources, including ethanol, algae, and CO2, to help secure future supply.
United has already invested in over five billion gallons of SAF production and has been using SAF blends at Los Angeles International Airport since 2016 and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport since 2022. The airline's Eco-Skies Alliance program, launched in April 2021, enables participating companies to share the cost of purchasing lower-emission fuels, resulting in nearly 15 million gallons of SAF purchased so far. The SAF used in San Francisco and Amsterdam is provided by Neste and is produced from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act includes the largest governmental climate change investments in US history, with a new blender's tax credit for SAF and other clean energy and carbon capture incentives. The Department of Defense is set to use a jet fuel blend containing at least 10% SAF by 2028. United Airlines remains committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets.
