{"id":5940,"date":"2023-05-10T08:18:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T08:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=5940"},"modified":"2024-08-12T15:12:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T12:12:57","slug":"delta-air-lines-signs-agreement-for-saf-at-los-angeles-international-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=5940","title":{"rendered":"Delta Air Lines Signs Agreement For SAF At Los Angeles International Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Delta Air Lines\u00a0is growing its\u00a0sustainable aviation fuel\u00a0(SAF<\/a>) supply with a new\u00a0Los Angeles International Airport\u00a0(LAX) contract. The contract, with Shell Aviation, is for up to 10 million gallons for two years, as announced this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemand signal\u201d of Delta Air Lines\u2019 SAF commitment<\/h2>\n

The 10 million gallons from the LAX contract with Shell Aviation is about 5% of Delta Air Lines\u2019 commitments of over 200,000,000 gallons of SAF. However, 200,000,000 gallons of SAF is only just more than half of Delta’s target of 10%.<\/p>\n

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Get all the latest\u00a0aviation news for North America<\/a>\u00a0here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n

As Pam Fletcher, Delta\u2019s Chief Sustainability Officer, explains, this contract is another \u201cdemand signal\u201d for more SAF.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere isn\u2019t enough SAF available today to fuel the world\u2019s commercial airlines for a single day. That\u2019s why Delta continues creating demand signals like this arrangement with Shell \u2013 to show this major decarbonization lever is worth investing in and growing. We can have a huge impact in just a few years if stakeholders and government work together to provide the same level of investment and incentives currently available for the fuel that runs our cars.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"Boeing<\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Per previous coverage,\u00a0Delta Air Lines is using a sustainability roadmap<\/a>\u00a0with a critical component of SAF in that roadmap. For Shell Aviation, according to its President Jan Toschka, the agreement is indeed another demand signal to help unlock SAF production and scale supply:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s brilliant to see Delta prioritize SAF, helping them to reduce lifecycle emissions while providing the demand that will help unlock further SAF production and scale supply. This marks another important development for the future of sustainable aviation, as ambitious offtake agreements like this can hold the key to driving the airline industry\u2019s transition toward a more sustainable future.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Finally, one should note that\u00a0Shell Aviation is also partnering with Alaska Airlines to provide SAF<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 namely 10 million gallons at LAX. It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0Alaska Airlines is a leader in innovation and sustainable aviation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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How is SAF truly sustainable?<\/h2>\n

SAF is created from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, including biomass, used fat or oil, municipal waste, and agricultural waste and residue. Basically, SAF is organic stuff that would otherwise be dumped, converted into fuel to burn in a jet engine for thrust. Unlike fossil fuels, SAF is renewable and burns cleaner.<\/p>\n

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\"Delta<\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Photo: OLOS via Shutterstock<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

According to the statement and Advanced Clean Tech News, neat SAF is 100% SAF versus a blend with traditional jet fuel. Carbon emissions drop by at least 60% by the use of SAF. Neat SAF is fuel that can be used without modification to either the airframe or the engine of the jetliner, plus blending up to 50% with regular jet fuel is possible at this time.<\/p>\n

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Want to know more about\u00a0sustainability in aviation<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Below is an\u00a0IATA<\/a>\u00a0or the International Air Transport Association YouTube about SAF. For reference, 7 billion liters a year is about 1.8 billion gallons annually:<\/p>\n