Delta expands SAF access in US through multiairport collaboration with Shell Aviation

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines announced in mid-July that it is scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through a multiairport collaboration supported by Shell Aviation that aims to expand SAF availability and adoption.

Together, the two companies will expand SAF availability across key U.S. hubs and priority cities—including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Portland International Airport (PDX), John. F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)—while building the infrastructure needed to support long term, reliable supply.

The collaboration comes at a critical time for fuel diversification and supply resilience.

Under the five-year agreement, Delta plans to expand the supply of SAF through 2030, building on decades of collaboration on conventional jet fuel with Shell.

The agreement builds on existing SAF initiatives between the two companies and is designed to support consistent fuel delivery—an essential step toward integrating SAF into routine airline operations, not a one-off milestone.

“Current instability and uncertainty have made one thing very clear to consumers and businesses alike—supply diversity matters,” said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s chief sustainability officer. “With Shell, we’re proving that scaling SAF isn’t theoretical, it’s achievable. This is about activating real supply chains at scale and creating a model that others can build on as we work across the industry to expand lower impact travel.”

Beyond expanding access to SAF, the collaboration focuses on how fuel reaches aircraft.

Shell will support both blended and neat SAF deliveries at select hubs and priority cities, helping establish the logistics, blending and distribution capabilities required for dependable supply across Delta’s network.

That infrastructure-first approach helps ensure SAF can scale with demand while maintaining operational reliability.

“This collaboration delivers on today’s fuel needs and tomorrow’s aviation solutions,” said Reema Bari, head of aviation in the Americas at Shell. “By supplying conventional jet, SAF and longer-term innovation, the deal will help strengthen energy security and contribute to the transformation of aviation.”

Delta said its multiairport and innovative approach looks ahead to the future of sustainable aviation.

Delta and Shell will work together to evaluate and advance next generation SAF technologies—including alcohol-to-jet and power-to-liquid pathways—aimed at unlocking additional supply and further reducing lifecycle emissions over time.

This strategic offtake builds on Delta’s broader SAF momentum, including its role as an anchor partner of the first-of-its-kind coalition, the Minnesota SAF Hub, with a commitment to implement an ambitious shared strategy for aggressively decarbonizing the airline industry by scaling SAF production and replacing conventional jet fuel.

In 2024, two 7,000-plus-gallon shipments of SAF arrived at both MSP and Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).