California has reached an agreement with the nation’s leading passenger and cargo airlines to accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuel for flights within the state. In an announcement made today at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade organization representing nearly a dozen major airlines, committed to a goal of increasing the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use within California to 200 million gallons by 2035, an amount that would meet about 40% of intrastate travel demand—a more than tenfold increase from current levels.

Sustainable aviation fuel is a low-carbon alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel. It is made from renewable biomass and/or waste. The agreement accelerates solutions to California’s climate and air quality goals by partnering with the aviation industry in emissions reduction efforts, and it supports a commitment by the major US airlines to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which will require completely transitioning from conventional petroleum-based jet fuel to sustainable alternatives.

This collaboration is an example of California’s partnerships with industry to move toward a clean air future, and one that was made possible by the development of alternative fuels spurred by the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program that provide the industry lower-carbon, sustainable options.

A4A’s members include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS, and associate member Air Canada. Key goals of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership include:

• CARB and A4A will work together with sustainable aviation fuel producers, aviation stakeholders, and the federal government to ensure that at least 200 million gallons of cost-competitive options are available for use by airlines within California by 2035.

• To achieve these goals, CARB and A4A will work together to identify, evaluate, and prioritize new policies and actions, including incentives for investment and timely permitting to help accelerate the availability and use of sustainable aviation fuels for intrastate flights in California.

• The partnership will establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Working Group of government and industry stakeholders that will meet annually to report progress and address barriers to meeting these goals.

• CARB staff will create a public website that will display the latest information on the availability and use of conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel within California, as well as details on relevant state and federal incentives and policies.