JetBlue begins regular SAF supply in New York

New York-based airline JetBlue announced that it has, in partnership with fuel suppliers, begun first-ever regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for commercial air travel New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

The supply follows JetBlue’s recent 12-month agreement with World Fuel Services (WKC), for at least 1 million gallons of neat SAF to be provided by Valero Marketing and Supply Company.

“JFK has been JetBlue’s home for 25 years, and our operations here should set the standard we envision for our entire network,” said Ursula Hurley, chief financial officer, JetBlue.

“Thank you to the many teams and partners who have helped make this possible. Incorporating SAF into our flights is an important lever in decarbonising the aviation industry and expanding its availability to our Northeast airports is a big step.”

The airline has onboarded several corporate business partners who help cover the cost premium over traditional jet fuel. JetBlue has an optionality for an additional 4m gallons of neat SAF under the terms of the deal with the support of corporate partners.

Use of SAF at the JFK Airport in 2021 was explored as part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the National Renewable Energy Lab.

The study found that SAF could be successfully delivered to Port Authority airports, paving the way for airline partners to fuel an aircraft with SAF at LaGuardia Airport successfully in June 2022 and for John F. Kennedy International Airport to welcome the world’s first transatlantic flight fuelled by SAF in November 2023.

SAF delivered to JetBlue will be produced by Diamond Green Diesel and then blended by Valero with conventional jet fuel to create blended SAF. The SAF is then delivered by World Fuel via existing jet fuel distribution infrastructure where it is claimed by JetBlue for use in their fleet at JFK Airport.