Korean Air to Use Sustainable Aviation Fuel Starting in 2026

Shell Signs MOU... "At Airports in Asia-Pacific and Middle East Regions for 5 Years"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Korean Air announced on the 30th that it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the global energy company Shell for the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

According to this MOU, Korean Air will receive SAF preferentially from Shell at airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions for five years starting in 2026.

SAF is aviation fuel produced from alternative raw materials such as waste cooking oil, household waste, and industrial by-product gases, rather than conventional fossil resources like petroleum and coal. It can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional aviation fuel throughout the entire process from raw material procurement to consumption.

SAF is gaining attention as an important carbon reduction measure in the aviation industry to respond to climate change. Accordingly, policies and investment support to increase SAF production and supply have recently expanded, mainly in Europe and the United States. However, supply is still insufficient compared to expected demand due to high prices and a lack of production facilities.

With this MOU, Korean Air will secure a stable supply chain of SAF from Shell, a global energy leader, in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Korean Air plans to continuously expand cooperation with global refiners to ensure stable SAF supply worldwide, including Europe and the United States.

Korean Air first operated using SAF on the Chicago?Incheon route in November 2017, the first in Korea. In February, it introduced SAF on the regular Paris?Incheon route, actively promoting the use of SAF to reduce carbon emissions.

Additionally, Korean Air signed an MOU last year with Hyundai Oilbank to establish a bio-aviation fuel usage base and continues to cooperate. It has also purchased carbon-neutral aviation fuel from SK Energy for domestic flights.