Asiana Airlines Partners with Shell to Introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Asiana Airlines is accelerating its carbon neutrality efforts through the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Asiana Airlines announced on the 30th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global energy company Shell to expand the use of SAF. According to this MOU, Asiana Airlines will be prioritized to receive SAF through Shell's network in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions for five years starting from 2026.

SAF is aviation fuel produced from sustainable raw materials instead of conventional fossil fuels, and it is known to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels.

The importance of sustainable aviation fuel has increased due to national carbon reduction obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the mandatory use of SAF in Europe, securing SAF supply chains has become essential in the aviation industry.

Starting with the European Union (EU), where SAF will be mandatory from 2025, several major countries are expected to sequentially enforce mandatory use of sustainable aviation fuel. As a national airline operating a global network, this MOU is significant for proactively securing supply volumes.

An Asiana Airlines official stated, “Carbon reduction is something airlines must do as members of the global community,” and added, “We plan to expand supply to regions beyond the Asia-Pacific and Middle East through consultations.”

Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines has established the first ESG management team in the aviation industry, accelerating ESG management efforts including social contribution and governance improvement, in addition to carbon reduction.