GHG Emissions, Industrial, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 28, 2024

International Airlines Group Purchases SAF

International Airlines Group (IAG) announced its largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) purchase agreement to date.

The agreement was signed with e-SAF (power-to-liquid) producer Twelve, a California company that will supply advanced e-SAF made from CO2, water and renewable energy. 

Under the terms of the 14-year contract, Twelve will supply IAG with 785,000 tons of e-SAF to support its five European airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. 

The fuel will lower lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 90% versus conventional jet fuel. 

E-SAF does not face feedstock limitations, has a high degree of emissions reduction versus conventional jet fuel and has a relatively low land and water-use footprint. 

Twelve, based in Berkeley, California, is constructing a demonstration plant in Moses Lake, Washington, that will supply the first SAF deliveries to IAG starting as early as 2025.  

The partnership is a major step forward for IAG on its journey toward its 2030 commitment as a Group to fly with 10% SAF.

"We have a roadmap to achieve net zero by 2050 including a target to fly with 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030," said Luis Gallego, IAG’s CEO, in a statement. "The shortage of sustainable fuel globally continues to be a problem for our industry although innovative companies like Twelve are an important part of the solution."

As part of its sustainability strategy, IAG is also investing in new aircraft, implementing fuel efficiency initiatives, purchasing and investing in SAF, and advancing carbon removals to mitigate any residual emissions from its operations. Most recently, the Group’s Project Speedbird in the UK — an ethanol-to-jet-fuel project between LanzaJet, Nova Pangaea, and British Airways — was granted £9 million from the UK Government’s Advanced Fuels Fund.