Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Air New Zealand is working towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Currently over 90% of our total emissions come from burning fossil jet fuel.

Sustainable aviation fuel is a form of alternative jet fuel commonly referred to as SAF. It's certified, safe, and being used by airlines in small amounts every day around the world. SAF is considered one of the main ways to help address aviation emissions in the short to medium term (out to 2050).

What is SAF?

SAF is almost chemically identical to conventional jet fuel but is made from raw materials like used cooking oil or forestry waste instead of fossil fuels. SAF releases the same amount of carbon as regular fuel when it's used in an aircraft, but it has lower carbon emissions over its lifecycle because of what it's made from. SAF is blended and dropped into the fuel supply system at airports, just as fossil jet fuel is now.

So what's the catch?

SAF is expensive (anywhere from two to five times the cost of fossil jet fuel), and it's a new industry so it needs to scale massively to meet demand in 2030 and beyond at reasonable prices.

Contributing to SAF helps reduce lifecycle carbon emissions within the aviation sector – at the point they're most needed for people who fly or send goods by air. It also sends a signal that you support helping scale and grow SAF for the future. 

How is Air New Zealand supporting the growth of SAF?

Air New Zealand is buying and uplifting small portions of SAF, including regular supply of SAF into San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX) airports. In the last year, 1.7% of our total fuel was SAF; we're targeting 10% of total fuel in 2030.

How can passengers help?

We're trialling SAF as part of our Voluntary Emissions Contribution Programme in some markets, where customers can contribute to a small portion of SAF which has been delivered into the aviation fuel system. If SAF isn't an option where you live, you can still support carbon credits and native tree planting if you choose to.

How can a business help?

Contributing to SAF provides a credible way for businesses to help reduce air travel emissions and meet climate goals. If you're a business or organisation, get in touch with us. We have SAFc (SAF certificates) available for purchase which equate to emissions reductions via SAF. We can walk you through some simple steps to buy SAFc from Air New Zealand and report your emissions reductions from SAFc if you want to.

How does SAF work?

Raw materials
As plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide. This carbon is stored in biomass, such as forestry and crop waste.
Production
SAF is produced from these biomass raw materials. It's blended with traditional jet fuel, and then certified and delivered into the jet fuel system.
Use
SAF can be used in existing aircraft, just like fossil jet fuel. It creates the same amount of CO2 when combusted, but over its lifecycle it has lower carbon emissions because the carbon comes from biomass and was absorbed from the atmosphere.
Customers
Apart from reducing flying, SAF is one of the main levers available to decarbonise air travel. Airlines are offering the emissions reductions from SAF to their customers in exchange for a contribution towards SAF.