United Airlines has created an alliance of more than a dozen of its corporate customers that will contribute toward purchasing sustainable fuel, the carrier has announced.
Companies in the new Eco-Skies Alliance Program will collectively help United buy about 3.4 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel this year. That amount is equivalent to a reduction of 31,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions or 220 million passenger miles of travel, based on the sustainable fuel having about 80 per cent lower lifecycle emissions compared with conventional jet fuel, according to United.
World Energy, which produces fuel from agricultural waste, is supplying the sustainable fuel for United's operations at its Los Angeles International Airport hub. In 2019 United announced a renewed contract with World Energy to buy up to 10 million gallons of its biofuel over the subsequent two years.
Initial participants in the alliance include Autodesk, Boston Consulting Group, CEVA Logistics, Deloitte, DHL, DSV, HP, Nike, Palantir, Siemens and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Chief executives of several of the participants provided statements saying the alliance would help them meet their own goals toward net-zero carbon emissions.
"Air travel accounts for a significant portion of our global carbon emissions, so we are proud to join United's Eco-Skies Alliance in support of our climate goals," Autodesk president and CEO Andrew Anagnost said in a statement. "As the world begins to open back up and travel resumes, sustainable aviation fuel is a key element in reducing carbon emissions and enables Autodesk to reduce our footprint at the source."
United said the alliance is a first for the aviation industry, and it's the latest indication that companies are taking a more active role to directly reduce emissions via investing in sustainable aviation fuel. Alliance member Deloitte earlier this year announced agreements with both Delta Air Lines and American Airlines in which it buys sustainable fuel to offset the environmental impact of its travel with the carriers. Microsoft also has announced agreements with both Alaska Airlines and KLM in which it buys sustainable fuel credits to offset travel on its busiest routes.
"This is just the beginning," United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement. "Our goal is to add more companies to the Eco-Skies Alliance program, purchase more [sustainable aviation fuel] and work across industries to find other innovative paths toward decarbonisation."
United also announced that it has added the ability for individual customers to add funds toward sustainable fuel purchase or contribute toward other initiatives that will help reduce carbon emissions in aviation via an Eco-Skies Alliance portal on its website.