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53

k

tonnes of SAF used by Group airlines in 2023 an increase of more than 400% from 2022

one of the highest volumes globally

80

%

Typical reduction of carbon emissions

compared to fossil jet fuel

1

st

airline group to commit to SAF uptake target by 2030

$

1

bn

investment in SAF usage agreements

our total investment in SAF as of 31 December 2023

of which 86% is future commitments, based on an assumed jet fuel price of $800 per metric tonne and contracted margins for SAF production

What is sustainable aviation fuel? 

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are chemically almost identical to kerosene. The feedstocks for these fuels – currently waste materials such as used cooking oil, municipal waste or waste wood – absorb CO2 in their growth cycle before this carbon is recycled into fuel and then consumed in the flight. The processes used to produce SAF are certified to international standards to ensure the fuels are safe to use. SAF can be used in existing aircraft and airport fuelling infrastructure.

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 on a greenhouse gas lifecycle basis, typically by 80% or more compared with fossil jet fuels. 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, and this volume will save as much carbon as taking one million cars off the road a year.

Our targets

10

%

SAF target by 2030

33

%

of SAF towards 2030 target already procured

70

%

expectation for SAF to cover 70% of total fuel by 2050

Key SAF partnerships

Producer Production location Anticipated supply start Technology
BP Europe; China Supplying since 2021 HEFA
Neste Finland; Singapore Supplying since 2021 HEFA
Phillips 66 Humber, UK Supplying since 2021 HEFA
Repsol Cartagena, Spain Supplying since 2022 HEFA
Cepsa Huelva, Spain Supplying since 2023 HEFA
LanzaJet Georgia, USA 2024 Alcohol-to-jet
Twelve Washington, USA 2025 Power-to-Liquid
LanzaJet/ Nova Pangaea1 North East, UK 2027 Alcohol-to-jet
Aemetis California, USA 2027 HEFA
Gevo Minnesota, USA 2028 Alcohol-to-jet
LanzaTech South Wales, UK 2028 Alcohol-to-jet
Velocys1 Immingham, UK
Mississippi, USA
2029 Fischer-Tropsch

 1. Includes carbon capture and storage.

SAF partnerships in action

LanzaJet: Freedom Pines

Supported by investment by British Airways in 2021, on 24 January 2024, LanzaJet opened the first production plant dedicated to low-carbon ethanol SAF in Georgia, USA.

Lanzajet Freedom Pines

Twelve

In February 2024, IAG signed its largest-ever SAF purchase agreement with Twelve, a SAF project based in Washington which produces advanced Power-to-Liquid SAF made from CO2, water and renewable energy. This means we have secured one third of the SAF required to meet IAG’s 10% SAF by 2030 target.

Twelve

Project Speedbird

In June 2023, British Airways, LanzaJet and Nova Pangaea Technologies signed an agreement that will accelerate Project Speedbird, an initiative created by the companies in 2021 to develop cost-effective SAF for commercial use in the UK. Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group Head of Sustainability and Jim Davies, IAG Programme Director – Sustainable Flight are pictured here with Anthony Brown MP, Aviation Minister and Sarah Ellerby, CEO Nova Pangea.

Speedbird