Sustainable aviation fuel now available at Long Beach Airport

Photo: City of Long Beach

The City of Long Beach, California, announced in late December that Long Beach Airport (LGB) now has sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) available for use by general-aviation jets.

The ecofriendly alternative is now offered through Atlantic Aviation, one of two fixed-base operators at the airport.

“I commend Atlantic Aviation for their proactive approach in adopting sustainable alternatives and working collaboratively with their business partners,’’ said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This initiative shows Long Beach’s commitment to sustainability and our collective efforts to build a future that is not just prosperous, but also environmentally responsible. This is a significant step towards our goal of a more sustainable future for Long Beach.”

Atlantic Aviation plans to maintain a supply of SAF volumes into the market to meet all customer demand.

“Atlantic is keenly aware of general aviation’s responsibility to combat rising emissions and work towards a cleaner environment,” said Eric Newman, Atlantic Aviation’s vice president of commercial strategy and sustainability. “SAF is jet fuel, providing the most tangible near-term solution to make an impact on aviation emissions. Atlantic is committed to doing our part to make an impact with simple and reliable advancements across our network.”

Neat—or unblended—SAF provides up to an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.

Large general-aviation and commercial aircraft use Jet A, which does not contain lead.

“Sustainability is a priority at Long Beach Airport, and collaboration with our tenants is an essential part in delivering greener options,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “This is a shared journey with our business partners at LGB, and together we are ensuring a more sustainable future for us all.”

Beyond expanding its services to include SAF for purchase, Atlantic Aviation is also redeveloping its complex to include other sustainably minded projects at LGB.

The company is finalizing a 30,000-square-foot hangar with additional office space that will be topped with a 1.1-million-kilowatt solar installation expected to support all electricity needs of the facility.

These greener fuel options and other sustainable developments at LGB, including a major solar installation at Aeroplex, contribute to LGB’s overall efforts toward one day becoming carbon neutral.

To that end, the airport was recently recertified by Airports Council International, the leading industry group for airports, with a Level 2 rating in the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program.

The ACA program helps airports identify, manage and reduce their carbon emissions.

LGB encompasses 1,166 acres and has three runways.

It is unique among municipal airports for its diverse portfolio of Class A office buildings, retail, industrial facilities, a hotel and municipal golf course.

The airport, recently named for a second consecutive year among the Top 10 airports in the country by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, currently offers service to 24 nonstop destinations around the nation, which is more than at any time in LGB’s nearly 100-year history.

Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people.

As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community.

With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.