United Airlines has signed an agreement with energy company Phillips 66 for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Earlier this year, United became the first airline to use SAF at O'Hare and continues to be one of the industry's leading investors in sustainable fuels.
The agreement with Texas-based Phillips 66 will cover at least 3.6 million gallons of sustainable fuel across the two airports, but could rise to more than 8 million. This will be comprised of:
- 3 million gallons of SAF for use at Chicago O'Hare, potentially rising to 8 million gallons by the first half of 2025
- An "initial" 600,000 gallons of SAF at LAX by the end of 2024
Brian Mandell, executive vice president of marketing and commercial at Phillips 66, commented,
"Building on our legacy as a leading conventional jet fuel supplier, providing 10% of the fuel volumes nationwide, we are dedicated to offering additional fuel options to our customers."
United's commitment at ORD has been aided by the Illinois Sustainable Aviation Fuel Purchase Credit program, and the airline has also been pivotal in securing similar credit programs in Colorado, California and Washington.
In August, it became the first airline to receive SAF at Chicago O'Hare with an agreement for 1 million gallons provided by Neste.
In California, the state is aiming to boost SAF consumption to 200 million gallons by 2035, with airline group Airlines for America (A4A) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reaching an agreement in October.
United has made considerable investments in its SAF usage and now uses sustainable fuel at multiple US airports.
Its United Airlines Ventures (UAV) Sustainable Flight Fund has attracted over $200 million in investment, aiming to explore methods of scaling up sustainable fuel consumption to meet growing demand.
It has also founded the SAF Coalition, a consortium of more than 40 airlines, aviation stakeholders and energy firms.
The carrier has committed to becoming net-zero by 2050 but admitted it has a long way to go, as only 0.1% of its fuel consumption comes from SAF.
Nonetheless, United remains the biggest SAF investor in the US - it was the first US-based airline to test sustainable fuel back in 2009, also becoming the first to use SAF for scheduled flights in 2016.
The airline allows passengers to choose more carbon-friendly flights when booking fares and also gives the option to make a donation to its Sustainable Flight Fund.
Texas-based energy firm Phillips 66 has blending facilities in Illinois and on the West Coast - according to the company, its supply of SAF is comprised of "waste fats, oils and greases" that have up to 85% lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than jet fuel.
Sustainable fuel has been advanced as an immediate solution by the industry as it is compatible with existing aircraft engines and fuel infrastructure, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the fueling ecosystem.
