British Airways announced that it has taken its first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Phillips 66, enabling the airline to begin powering a number of flights with the fuel capable of reducing lifecycle emissions by over 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

With the new delivery, British Airways becomes the first airline in the world to start using SAF produced on a commercial scale in the UK.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said:

“Being the first airline to source sustainable aviation fuel produced at commercial scale in the UK is another breakthrough moment for us and the airline industry.

“Our supplies of SAF from Phillips 66 Limited will allow us to progress with our ambitious roadmap to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner and will play a role in our commitment, as part of International Airlines Group (IAG), to power 10% of flights with SAF by 2030.”

The announcement follows the signing of a multi-year SAF supply agreement last year between British Airways and Phillips 66. Under the agreement, British Airways will purchase enough SAF to reduce CO2 emissions by almost 100,000 tonnes, equivalent to powering 700 net zero CO2 emissions flights between London and New York. The SAF is being produced at the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, located near Immingham. The fuel is generated from sustainable waste feedstock and is supplied to British Airways via existing pipeline infrastructure that feeds directly into UK airports.

Darren Cunningham, Lead Executive UK and General Manager Humber Refinery, said:

“Phillips 66 Humber Refinery is proud to supply British Airways with sustainable aviation fuel.  We were the first in the UK to co-process waste oils to produce renewable fuels and now we will be the first to produce SAF at scale. We’re currently refining almost half a million litres of sustainable waste feedstocks a day, and this is just a start.”