JetBlue has partnered with climate tech company Chooose to give passengers the opportunity to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The airline has launched a platform, powered by Chooose, which allows customers to estimate the CO2 emissions of their flights and then contribute to a fund which will be used to help cover the difference in cost between SAF and conventional jet fuel.
The airline will then be able to use these donations to ‘upgrade’ more conventional jet fuel to SAF. This means that the SAF will not necessarily be used on your flight but will allow the airline to source more renewable fuel for future flying.
As an example, we inputted a return London Heathrow-New York JFK flight in business class into the platform. As you can see in the screenshots, the platform estimates that the total emissions for the trip would be 3.19 tonnes.
Customers can choose to reduce their carbon footprint by up to 10 per cent using a sliding scale. The platform will then calculate the cost and provide an estimate for the number of emissions you have reduced.
For more information on the SAF sector, see our feature in the February 2023 issue of Business Traveller:
SAF made up roughly 0.3 per cent of JetBlue’s fuel consumption in 2022 and the airline sees it as “critical” to achieving the aviation industry’s emissions reduction goals, though notes that this will depend on SAF being more widely available and “cost competitive with traditional fuel sources”.
The airline is calling on its customers to “send a critical signal of consumer demand” for more sustainable air travel options, which will in turn boost the SAF market.
Sara Bogdan, director of sustainability and environmental social governance at JetBlue, commented:
“The call from our customers for more sustainable air travel has only gotten louder and louder. We are proud of our industry-leading commitments and actions but recognize reaching our aggressive goals will require the partnership and support of multiple stakeholders.
“With this new platform, customers are now able to measurably reduce the environmental impact of air travel, as well as join their voices with JetBlue and our growing list of partners as we work and advocate for a more sustainable future of aviation.”
JetBlue aims to convert 10 per cent of its total fuel to SAF by 2030 and has already used the sustainable fuel on flights from its airports in San Francisco and Los Angeles by partnering with suppliers Neste and World Energy. The carrier has also signed agreements with producers Aemetis, Air Company and Fidelis New Energy in 2022 for future supply of SAF.
Andreas Slettvoll, CEO at Chooose, added:
“Chooose is thrilled to support JetBlue’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions by making it easy and accessible for JetBlue customers to take action on the emissions associated with their flights and to join JetBlue in its efforts to transition to SAF. Airlines, governments, NGOs and travelers alike must come together to scale the production and use of SAF and other low-emission alternatives.
“This is how we change the emissions at their root cause, by giving passengers the opportunity to opt for alternatives to fossil fuel. We are excited to be a part of JetBlue’s journey to becoming a more sustainable business. Together we will make SAF much more accessible to travelers across the world.”
Last week fellow US carrier United Airlines launched an investment fund to scale up the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, while Heathrow airport warned that the UK risks slipping behind Europe and the US in the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
