American Airlines discusses SAF potential in 2023 Sustainability Report

American Airlines consumed 2.7 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2023, according to its 2023 Sustainability Report, released July 2. While that volume of SAF use was up 4% when compared to 2022, it accounted for less than 1% of total fuel use during the year.

According to the report, American Airlines is actively working to increase the volume of SAF it procures. “We’ve signed commitments with multiple SAF producers, at a premium, to try to secure supply and, in the case of Infinium, to help attract capital to bring a new, lower-carbon SAF technology to market sooner,” wrote the airline in the report. “But the volume of SAF available today and likely to be ready over the next several years is a tiny fraction of what’s needed.”American Airlines has set a goal to achieve 10% SAF usage by 2030. The recently released Sustainability Report outlines actions the airline is taking to achieve that goal and highlights policy mechanisms and stakeholder actions that can support the growing SAF industry.

“Scaling the SAF market so fuel is available at the volume and price needed to make a real dent in aviation’s climate impacts — and to help American reach our climate goals — depends on bolder action by policymakers, increased investment by energy companies and more innovative financing approaches,” American Airlines said in the report. “We’ve seen progress — the recently enacted SAF blenders tax credit and similar efforts in states like Illinois are key steps forward — but we need more.”

While airlines have a role to play in growing the SAF industry, the report stresses there must be a concerted effort by a range of stakeholders to significantly accelerate the trajectory of the SAF market. Specifically, the report indicates that engine and airframe manufacturers need to enable higher SAF blends, the research community must advance innovation in the form of new SAF production pathways, the energy sector needs to align its capital commitments, the financial sector must find more effective ways to support the SAF market, standard setters must recognize new solutions, and policymakers must enact smart policies that will drive further investment in the industry.

The Sustainability Report also details American Airlines’ investment in U.S. electrofuels (eFuels) company Infinium, which aims to convert waste carbon dioxide, water, and renewable power into SAF. American has signed a firm offtake agreement with Infineum for the supply of eSAF. The company plans to produce eSAF at a repurposed brownfield gas-to-liquids facility in Texas.

A full copy of American Airlines’ 2023 Sustainability Report is available on the company’s website.