Air New Zealand’s journey to net zero emissions continues this week as the carrier inks a deal with Neste for nine million litres of the producer’s neat sustainable aviation fuel.
The deal represents the largest purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Neste by any airline outside North America and Europe. NZ’s Chair Dame Therese Walsh says decarbonising NZ’s operations is essential for the airline’s long-term ability to connect New Zealanders to the world, as well as support the country’s trade and tourism sectors.
“While the SAF supply is small compared with the airline’s overall fuel use, it is nine times the size of NZ’s first shipment of SAF from Neste in 2022 and demonstrates growing cooperation between two like-minded organisations to advance the supply and use of SAF,” she adds.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has also chimed in on the deal, saying this collaboration is ‘world-leading’. The SAF will be produced at Neste’s Singapore refinery, and is expected to be delivered before the end of the year, with it to then be blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to Los Angeles International Airport.
