United Airlines partners with Neste for sustainable aviation fuel at Chicago O'Hare

“We are excited to expand our partnership with United and see our SAF being used at one of the major airports in the U.S. It underlines our commitment to supporting the U.S. aviation industry in its efforts to decarbonize and shows the important role that policy supports like the federal SAF 40B credit and Illinois’ SAF Purchase Credit play in accelerating SAF usage. We continue supporting United’s roadmap to achieve its emission goals and look forward to expanding our cooperation at other airports across the globe,” said Alexander Kueper, vice president, renewable aviation business at Neste.

“This is what happens when innovation, leadership and policy come together,” said United president Brett Hart, who was at ORD today with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “While the market for SAF is still in its infancy, there is a huge opportunity today for airlines and policymakers to work together to support its continued growth – SAF at O’Hare was made possible thanks to Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Legislature passing tax incentives.”

In 2023, Illinois introduced a SAF purchase credit for every gallon of SAF sold to or used by an air carrier in the state. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois ranked fifth in the nation for jet fuel consumption in 2022. The new tax credit positions Illinois at the forefront of encouraging SAF adoption.

The delivery of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to United at ORD builds on Neste’s long-term partnership with the airline. In 2022, Neste announced the supply of 2.5 million gallons (7,500 metric tons) of SAF to United at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, followed by another announcement in 2023 of providing 1.5 million gallons (4,500 metric tons) of SAF to fuel all of United’s departing flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).