Tuesday 14 September 2021

Major US airlines target three billion gallons of sustainable fuel production by 2030

Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade body representing leading US airlines, have pledged to produce three billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.

The goal is an increase from its previous commitment of two billion gallons during the same period, as part of the aviation industry's pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Member carriers will work with government leaders and other stakeholders to make cost-competitive SAF available to US aircraft operators.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, US airlines were transporting a record 2.5 million passengers and 58,000 tons of cargo per day while contributing less than 2% of the nation's carbon emissions.

Passenger and cargo carriers have been investing in increasingly fuel-efficient aircrafts, improving overall fuel efficiency by more than 135% by 2019 and saving more than five billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.

A4A and its members have also committed to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to help facilitate achieving carbon-neutral growth in international aviation starting in 2020.

A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio said: “We are proud of our record on climate change but we know the climate change challenge has only continued to intensify. Accordingly, A4A member carriers have embraced the need to take even bolder, more significant steps to address the climate crisis.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that we are increasing our SAF 'challenge goal' by an additional 50%.”

He also highlighted the need for positive government policy support to help enable the US aviation industry to reach its ambitious new 2030 SAF goal and its 2050 net zero target.

Support would include a $1.50 (£1.08) - $2.00 (£1.44) per gallon SAF blender’s tax credit, public-private SAF research, development and deployment programmes and other collaborative initiatives.