United Airlines has made history by being the initial airline to acquire sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for operations at O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Governor JB Pritzker, alongside the airline’s executives, gathered at ORD to emphasize the significance of Illinois’ SAF tax credits in facilitating the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel at one of the nation’s major airports.
Neste, a SAF producer, has committed to supplying United Airlines at ORD with up to 1 million gallons of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2024. The initial delivery is scheduled for August.
United Airlines was the pioneer in setting a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, without depending on voluntary carbon offsets. It continues to lead the U.S. industry in acquiring and utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In 2023, United Airlines procured a larger amount of sustainable fuel compared to any other U.S. airline. The collaboration with Neste has resulted in O’Hare becoming the fifth airport where United Airlines has obtained SAF for operational purposes, marking one of the highest number of locations among U.S. airlines.
“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 Governor JB 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.”
SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce 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. SAF is among 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.
“This is what happens when innovation, leadership and policy come together,” said United President Brett Hart, who was at ORD today with the Governor. “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.”
United has now purchased SAF for airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, London, and Amsterdam.
“I’m pleased to see United Airlines making this significant move forward by using sustainable aviation fuel daily in flights from O’Hare,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said. “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.”