JetBlue Establishes First Regular SAF Fuel Supply for Commercial Flights in New York
In a historic milestone for the aviation industry, JetBlue, in collaboration with its partners, has successfully established the first regular supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for commercial flights in the New York region. This achievement has been realized at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), marking a significant step toward decarbonizing the aviation sector.
A Key Agreement for Sustainability
This accomplishment stems from a 12-month agreement announced last summer between JetBlue and World Fuel Services, a subsidiary of World Kinect. The agreement includes the provision of at least 1 million gallons of pure SAF by Valero Marketing and Supply Company, a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation. Additionally, with the support of corporate partners, this supply can be expanded by up to 4 million additional gallons.
Ursula Hurley, JetBlue’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasized the importance of this advancement: “JFK has been JetBlue’s home for 25 years, and our operations here must set the standard we envision for our entire network. Incorporating SAF into our flights is a crucial lever for decarbonizing the aviation industry, and expanding its availability at our Northeast airports is a significant step forward.”
Production and Distribution of SAF
The sustainable fuel is produced by Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a joint venture between a subsidiary of Valero and Darling Ingredients Inc. Subsequently, Valero blends this fuel with conventional kerosene to create a blended SAF, which is distributed by World Fuel through the existing aircraft fuel supply infrastructure.
This blended SAF is compatible with current aircraft and infrastructure and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional fuel.
Brad Hurwitz, Senior Vice President of Supply and Trading at World Fuel Services, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “Working with JetBlue and Valero to bring blended SAF to one of our largest airports reinforces our ambition to develop a consistent SAF supply network on the U.S. East Coast.”
A Joint Effort Toward Sustainability
The delivery of SAF in the New York region was initially explored in a 2021 study conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This study assessed how SAF could be transported to the Port Authority’s airports using existing infrastructure.
The results were positive, enabling an aircraft to be fueled with SAF at LaGuardia Airport in June 2022 and JFK Airport to receive the world’s first transatlantic flight powered by this sustainable fuel in November 2023.
Kevin O’Toole, Chairman of the Port Authority, expressed pride in the collaboration with JetBlue: “As an international gateway to the U.S., JFK is leading by example through our work in safely delivering SAF to our regional airports and promoting sustainable air travel.”
The growth of the sustainable aviation fuel market and its nationwide adoption require collaboration between the public and private sectors. Proposed federal and state incentives for renewable fuels could support the industry’s transition to SAF, while corporate partnerships help offset costs.
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