Snapshot: Who Uses Sustainable Aviation Fuel Right Now?
If you searched who uses sustainable aviation fuel today, here’s the quick answer: at least a dozen major carriers now blend SAF on scheduled routes, led by KLM, Delta, United, Lufthansa, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic and Alaska Airlines. KLM ran the first SAF flight back in 2011 and still flies regular Amsterdam to LA legs on a 30 percent blend.
United blends SAF at Los Angeles and San Francisco, while Delta took its first Asia Pacific delivery in March 2025. Lufthansa now powers all domestic trips taken by Airbus staff with SAF, signaling corporate backing at scale. For restaurants wondering why airlines matter: every new gallon they burn began life as used cooking oil, tallows, or other waste fats. Demand is no longer hypothetical, it’s taxiing for take off.
The Front Runners: How Four Airlines Set the Pace
KLM sustainable aviation fuel trials started with passengers agreeing to a small fare bump that buys a 100 percent SAF surcharge on select European hops. Delta SAF momentum accelerated with a multiyear purchase from Cosmo Oil, its first supply in the Asia Pacific region, and a separate 250 million gallon deal with Aemetis. A fresh United Airlines SAF agreement locks in 260 million gallons of e fuel from Twelve over 14 years, complementing its long standing World Energy supply in California.
Finally, regular Lufthansa SAF flights now come bundled with “Green Fares,” letting leisure passengers pay once to cover both SAF and offsets. Together these pioneers account for more than half of all global airline SAF commitments announced in 2024 25, evidence that the market has shifted from press releases to purchase orders.
The Numbers Behind SAF Offtake Agreements
| Airline | Partner / Feedstock | Deal Size | Start Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | Cosmo Oil (UCO/animal fats) | 200 M gal | 2025 | First Asia Pacific supply |
| United | Twelve (e SAF) | 260 M gal | 2028 | Power to Liquid, 90 % less CO₂ |
| KLM | SkyNRG (used cooking oil) | 75 M gal | 2026 | 100 % surcharge test |
| Lufthansa | Various (HEFA) | 2 % blend EU wide | 2025 | Meets ReFuelEU law |
Data compiled from the ICAO SAF Offtake dashboard and recent carrier filings. Offtake agreements are crucial because they guarantee demand, unlock financing for refineries, and set predictable price signals for waste oil suppliers.
In plain English: when an airline signs a contract for 200 million gallons of SAF, fryer oil suddenly has a long term home, and a premium price.
First Flights and Milestones That Proved SAF Works
The “firsts” keep the momentum alive: KLM’s 2011 mixed fuel hop from Amsterdam to Paris proved passengers would board a biofueled jet. A decade later, Virgin Atlantic completed the first 100 percent SAF transatlantic flight, showing engines can run drop in fuel without hardware tweaks.
United followed with the first passenger flight using pure SAF in one engine on a 737 MAX. Each record put regulators at ease and investors on notice, shrinking the “technology risk” premium that once hampered new refining projects. Translation for the kitchen: every successful test flight widens the funnel for your waste oil to become jet fuel instead of low value biodiesel.
Corporate SAF Programs: Business Travel Goes Green
Large employers are no longer waiting for governments. Airbus buys “SAF bundles” for every staff itinerary on Air France KLM or Lufthansa, cutting CO₂ up to 80 percent per trip. Lufthansa’s corporate SAF programs include a “Sustainable Corporate Value Fare,” while KLM lets companies lock in monthly SAF blocks through SkyNRG.
For facility managers, this matters because corporate demand often forecasts consumer trends: once CFOs accept the green premium, volume spikes follow, and so does the need for reliable, traceable waste oil feedstock across the United States.
Why Restaurants and Collection Companies Hold the Key
Airlines can pledge millions of gallons, but without the steady trickle from fryers in Miami or Atlanta the tanks run dry. SAF producers now pay a premium for clean, segregated waste fats, especially used cooking oil (UCO). IATA projects global SAF demand doubling again in 2025, from 300 to 600 million liters.
That surge already shows up in state policy: California aims for 200 million gallons of intrastate SAF by 2035. Grease Connections’ east coast network is scaling to meet that appetite; restaurants can lock in long term contracts or explore spot sales via our Miami service hub. The cleaner the oil, the higher the credit.
How to Track Airline SAF Progress in Real Time
Keeping score is easy: bookmark ICAO’s public SAF Offtake Agreements dashboard, cross check airline press rooms, and set Google Alerts for “SAF offtake.” For an at a glance view of U.S. adoption, Transport & Environment’s SAF Observatory maps carrier pledges against actual deliveries.
Finally, follow each carrier’s quarterly sustainability report: Delta, United, Lufthansa and KLM now report blended gallons and lifecycle CO₂ savings alongside financials, making greenwashing harder. Grease Connections consolidates these feeds and flags new bids for waste oil feedstock in our monthly newsletter.
The Road to 2030 and Your Next Step
Regulators have moved from incentives to mandates: ReFuelEU requires a 2 percent SAF blend in 2025, ratcheting to 6 percent by 2030 and 70 percent by 2050. Airlines buying early lock in cost advantages; suppliers who secure feedstock lines now ride that same cost curve.
The takeaway: whether you run a single downtown café or a multi state chain, your fryer oil is no longer waste, it’s jet fuel in disguise. Visit our SAF supply page to see current pricing tiers and schedule a pick up. Because the next time you look up and spot a contrail, odds are it carries a drop of oil that once sizzled tonight’s fries.
