Cargolux, AIT Worldwide Logistics sign historic SAF deal

Photo: Cargolux

Cargolux announced May 20 that it and global freight-forwarding partner AIT Worldwide Logistics have signed the largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) deal in their history, in collaboration with Microsoft, for the transportation of their server racks (Microsoft Cloud Logistics).

This groundbreaking partnership will result in a saving of 66,000 metric tons of CO2e over three years, between 2025 and 2027.

The SAF, produced and delivered by Valero and produced by Diamond Green Diesel, is based on used cooking oil and tallow—without palm oil or any derivatives—ensuring an ethical and sustainable supply chain.

It is added to Cargolux’s fuel inventory at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH).

Building on their commitment to responsible operations, Cargolux and AIT are utilizing the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials registry to ensure a transparent and credible process for tracking and retiring SAF claims.

This collaboration strengthens accountability in sustainable aviation, with the neat SAF itself certified under EU CORSIA standards.

“Collaboration across our supply-chain ecosystem is crucial as we continue to drive toward Microsoft’s sustainability goals,” said Colin Todd, the general manager of cloud-manufacturing operations and fulfillment with Microsoft. “By working together to increase the production and use of SAF, we can help to cost-effectively drive down emissions and increase the potential for more use of alternative fuels across the transport ecosystem.”

Chelsea Lamar, AIT’s vice president of global sustainability, added, “Securing this noteworthy volume of SAF with Cargolux over a three-year period is a key aspect of our global supply-chain solutions for Microsoft Cloud Services, enabling all parties to strive closer towards our emissions reduction goals. This alliance between forward-thinking companies will serve as a model for future cooperation and we look forward to advocating for similar deals with like-minded shippers in the near future.”

Domenico Ceci, Cargolux’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said, “This agreement demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships in the journey to sustainability. Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint is unwavering and we will continue to work towards this goal despite the volatility we face in our industry. We are proud of achieving this milestone with AIT and contributing to paving the way for a sounder supply chain.”

Partnerships are key to breaking new ground in the air-cargo industry and reaffirming the key players’ dedication to reducing carbon emissions, according to Cargolux.

“This collaboration showcases how transparency between different actors can yield significant benefits for all involved,” the company stated.