Neste extends SAF supply to Ontario, California, airport through deal with Amazon Air

Photo: Amazon

Neste has reached an agreement with Amazon to provide 7,500 metric tons (2.5 million gallons) of neat Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ for its Amazon Air cargo operations at San Francisco International Airport and Ontario International Airport in California through the end of this year.

This agreement makes Amazon the first company to purchase and use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Ontario International Airport, ranked among the top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.

Amazon has made an ambitious commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2040, and adopting SAF is a key lever to decarbonize its air-cargo operations.

The agreement to use SAF in California is part of a broader cooperation between Amazon and Neste that started four years ago when Neste delivered SAF to Amazon at Cologne Bonn Airport in 2021.

Neste’s SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to the Amazon Air network at both airports.

The first volumes were successfully delivered earlier this year.

Leveraging Neste’s SAF supply capabilities established in Northern California in 2020, the fuel is delivered directly to San Francisco International Airport via existing pipeline infrastructure.

For Amazon Air’s operation at Ontario International Airport, the SAF is delivered to the airport by trucks from Neste’s SAF terminal facilities in Los Angeles by Diesel Direct, Neste’s long-term partner.

Diesel Direct uses Neste’s renewable diesel to fuel trucks dedicated to the SAF deliveries to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from SAF transportation.

“We are excited to provide SAF to Amazon Air at two major airports in California,” said Carl Nyberg, a senior vice president with Neste. “This milestone sends a positive signal that SAF is available to airlines and cargo operators, like Amazon Air at these airports. Our supply-chain solution for these California gateways builds on our existing SAF supply capabilities on the West Coast in the U.S., and leverages our partnership with Diesel Direct to transport SAF by trucks running on renewable diesel. This demonstrates how renewable fuels can help our customers easily reduce GHG emissions across different transportation modes.”

Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces GHG emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s lifecycle compared to using conventional jet fuel.

Neste’s SAF is made from 100 percent renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

SAF is certified for commercial use and can currently be blended up to 50 percent with conventional jet fuel before use.

It works seamlessly with existing aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure.

Today, Neste’s global SAF production capability is 1.5 million tons (around 515 million gallons) per year, and it is set to grow to 2.2 million tons (around 750 million gallons) in 2027.