American Airlines and Google have signed a new agreement for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an agreement they claim will save 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Using existing infrastructure, over three years American will take delivery of 132 million litres of SAF at Chicago O’Hare Airport. A SAF tax credit granted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly has enabled the airline to buy the fuel at such high volumes. The deal allow Google to address its own emissions by ensuring all employee travel is accounted in the SAFc Registry.
American’s Chief Sustainability Officer Jill Blickstein commented:
Our industry-leading agreement with Google is a critical step forward in reducing emissions from our operations. By working with leaders like Google who share our commitment to innovation, we’re helping to grow demand for SAF and support the development of a stronger, more resilient market.
SAF can reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuels, but supply chain issues and government policy has so far frustrated scaleup. Produced from waste feedstock, including oils and fats, the potential for global decarbonisation is immense. However, industry bodies such as IATA have warned these obstacles need to be overcome rapidly if the aviation industry is to meet its net-zero targets.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said:
Illinois is proud to be at the forefront of the clean energy industry. This agreement demonstrates how our nation-leading SAF tax credit can bring industry leaders together as we work toward a more sustainable future. Through partnerships with innovators like American Airlines and Google, we’re strengthening Illinois’ role as a global aviation hub and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy.
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