Sustainable Aviation Fuel

What is sustainable aviation fuel? 

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is chemically almost identical to kerosene. SAF is certified to international standards to ensure it is safe to use in existing aircraft and airports. The feedstocks for these fuels - currently waste materials such as used cooking oil, municipal waste or waste wood - absorb or avoid greenhouse gases before this carbon is recycled into fuel and then used.

IAG ensures its SAF complies with strict sustainability certification schemes to ensure the feedstocks come from sustainable sources, and that the production processes conserve water and energy and have minimal wider impacts.

What role will SAF play in our transition plan? 

SAF reduces carbon emissions typically by 80% or more compared with conventional jet fuel. IAG is on track to deliver a 100-fold increase in its SAF volumes between 2022 and 2030 and expects to use SAF for 70% of total fuel in 2050.

In 2021, the Group set a target of using one million tonnes of SAF a year by 2030, dependent on appropriate government policy support. This volume will save as much greenhouse gases as taking one million cars off the road per year.

Our targets

Key SAF partnerships

1. Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method 2. Includes carbon capture and storage.