Delta to purchase up to 10 million gallons of SAF from Shell Aviation

Delta is making another multi-million-dollar commitment in sustainable aviation fuel on its quest to scale what is widely considered the airline industry’s largest proven decarbonisation lever.
Delta will purchase up to 10 million gallons of neat SAF from Shell Aviation over a two-year period for use at its hub at Los Angeles International Airport. This will increase the global airline’s SAF commitments to over 200 million gallons – more than halfway to its goal of SAF comprising 10% of its fuel use annually by end of 2030 and well on its way to 35% SAF use by 2035.
Delta’s ambitions complement those of Shell, which aims to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.
“There isn’t enough SAF available today to fuel the world’s commercial airlines for a single day,” said Pam Fletcher, Delta’s chief sustainability officer.
“That’s why Delta continues creating demand signals like this arrangement with Shell – to show this major decarbonisation lever is worth investing in and growing.
“We can have a huge impact in just a few years if stakeholders and government work together to provide the same level of investment and incentives currently available for the fuel that runs our cars.”
Delta’s LAX hub will receive the blended SAF thanks to California’s long-standing low carbon fuel standard that provides incentives for producers to provide SAF to the state.
Other states are now exploring similar SAF programs and tax incentives to complement federal policies that encourage the investment in and scaling of SAF.