United Airlines next month will begin using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Chicago O’Hare International Airport hub.
The airline expects to receive 1 million gallons of SAF at O’Hare by the end of 2024, representing about 3% of its total fuel consumption at the airport.
According to United, O’Hare is the first U.S. airport outside of California that will have a portion of its fuel supply be filled by SAF. The airline said the initiative is made possible by tax credits recently passed in the state of Illinois.
“This is what happens when innovation, leadership and policy come together,” United President Brett Hart said in a statement. “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.”
What is SAF?
Sustainable aviation fuel is a technology that allows jets to fly without traditional petroleum-based fuels. It’s made from renewable sources like used cooking oil, biomass or even direct-air carbon capture. While SAF usually still emits greenhouse gases while being used, its production process is much more environmentally friendly than traditional aviation fuel.
Can any plane use SAF?
SAF is meant as a drop-in replacement for traditional aviation fuel, which means any plane should be able to fly with it, without needing expensive modifications. Current regulations only allow SAF to be used in a 50% blend with traditional jet fuel for commercial flights, and some minor modifications may be needed to support 100% SAF flights over the long term due to the chemical makeup of SAF differing slightly from traditional fuel and interacting with certain plane components differently.