Korean Air partners with GS Caltex to test sustainable aviation fuel

Korean Air has partnered with GS Caltex to conduct test flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The test flights using SAF will be analyzed and the results will be used by the Korean government to establish SAF quality standards and accelerate commercialisation.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 29 to cooperate on a series of test flights using SAF.
Korean Air will use SAF supplied by GS Caltex on select international flights departing from Seoul Incheon.
The test flights will take place for six months starting in the second half of this year, and the government plans to establish SAF implementation guidelines for domestic use based on the results of the flights. The research will assist in setting SAF quality standards prior to full-scale domestic production.
Korean Air tested SAF for the first time in November 2017 between Seoul Incheon and Chicago O’Hare, and has been using SAF on its Paris-Seoul Incheon route since last year. Korean Air has also signed an agreement with global energy company Shell to purchase SAF from Shell at major airports in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East for five years starting in 2026.
The airline’s increase in SAF usage is part of its proactive efforts to reduce carbon emissions to help tackle climate change, and further strengthen its environmental, social and governance (ESG) management for governance transparency.
“SAF is crucial in reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector, but is easily influenced by various factors such as domestic and international policies, regulations, and demand and supply,” said Seong Bae Cho, senior vice president of procurement at Korean Air. “The cooperative effort with GS Caltex will vitalise the Korean domestic SAF market, and will serve as stepstones for the Korean government’s decarbonisation policies.”