Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.

“This is what happens when innovation, leadership and policy come together,” said Brett Hart, president, United, who joined Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at ORD on the day of the announcement. “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 was also the first airline to set a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on voluntary carbon offsets. As a leader in the purchase and use of SAF, United has bought more than any other U.S. airline in 2023.

© United Airlines

SAF, an alternative to conventional jet fuel, can reduce emissions by up to 85 percent on a lifecycle basis because of its renewable materials. It remains aviation’s best, most scalable options to push the industry toward net zero emissions because it can be used with existing infrastructure.

Always an industry leader, United also advocates for legislation to grow the SAF market, pushing for the adoption of a federal SAF Blender’s Tax Credit, which allows the Department of Transportation to promote SAF usage and offer incentives for hydrogen production and carbon capture. At a state level, United helped secure the passage of SAF tax credits in Illinois, Colorado, California and Washington. United helped found SAF Coalition, a consortium of more than 40 airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, unions, and biofuel producers.

Other efforts made to reach United’s environmental goals include adding new fuel-efficient planes, investing in low carbon onboard products, looking into alternate propulsion technologies and rallying the business community to scale more sustainable aviation fuel.

Learn more at united.com.