United Airlines has become the first airline to bulk purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at its Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) megahub.
The airline, which has its largest operations base at the airport, has announced it has purchased up to one million US gallons of SAF from leading SAF producer Neste with the first delivery due to be supplied to the carrier in August 2024.
United was the first airline globally to create a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, without relying on voluntary carbon offsets. Indeed, the company purchased more sustainable fuel than any US airline in 2023 and a purchase of SAF of this magnitude displays the carrier’s ongoing commitment to that goal, says the carrier.
The agreement announced with Neste makes Chicago O’Hare the fifth US airport where United has purchased SAF for operational use and the purchase will see the fuel being used across the carrier’s domestic, regional, and international route networks from the airport. United has previously purchased SAF for use at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, London, and Amsterdam.
SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 85% on a lifecycle basis, from production to end use, because it is made from renewable materials rather than drilled fossil oil. According to a United statement, SAF presents “one of aviation’s best, most scalable options to push the industry towards net zero emissions in part because it can be used right now with existing infrastructure – no changes to fuel systems or aircraft engines required.”
The current Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker joined the airline’s leadership at Chicago O’Hare Airport for the announcement on July 31, 2024, to highlight the role that SAF tax credits provided by his state played in bringing SAF to one of the largest airports in the US for the first time.
“Since day one as Governor, I’ve committed to making Illinois a national leader in sustainability and clean energy, which is why I was proud to support a nation-leading SAF tax credit last year,” said Pritzker. “Illinois’s position as a hub of innovation with some of the most connected airports in the country perfectly aligns with the work of companies like United to build a more sustainable future for travel and reach our shared goal of zero emissions.”
“This is what happens when innovation, leadership, and policy come together,” said United President Brett Hart. “While the market for SAF is still in its infancy, there is a huge opportunity today for airlines and policymakers to work together to support its continued growth. SAF at O’Hare was made possible thanks to Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Legislature passing tax incentives.”
“I’m pleased to see United Airlines making this significant move forward by using sustainable aviation fuel daily in flights from O’Hare,” US Senator Tammy Duckworth added. “One of the most important things we can do to make American aviation more sustainable is increase the supply of SAF. At the federal level, I’ve been pushing for the increased use of SAF, and I’m going to keep pushing to increase the supply of American-grown, American-made SAF, a true win-win solution that supports domestic farmers and blenders while reducing our nation’s carbon footprint.”
Alongside the purchase of millions of gallons of SAF annually, United’s roadmap to achieve its zero-emission goals by 2050 also includes driving operational efficiencies through a variety of flying and ground-based activities, adding hundreds of new, fuel-efficient planes to its fleet such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A321neo, and investing in other low-carbon onboard products, reducing the use of plastics, and exploring alternate propulsion technologies.
In 2021, the carrier invested $600 million in eVTOL developer Archer Aviation and placed an order worth over $1 billion for hundreds of its Midnight 6-seat air-taxi aircraft. The revolutionary aircraft is due to be introduced by United sometime in 2025 once certification for its commercial use has been achieved.
