Key Takeaways
• Singapore Airlines signed major SAF agreements with Neste and World Energy in May 2025, aiming to cut over 9,500 tonnes CO2.
• A new MoU with Aether Fuels paves the way for a five-year potential SAF supply using advanced waste-carbon technology.
• The airline targets 5% SAF use by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through international partnerships and innovation.
Singapore Airlines Sets the Standard in Aviation Sustainability with New SAF Partnerships
Singapore Airlines 🇸🇬 has once again shown its strong commitment to sustainability by taking big steps in its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The airline group is moving quickly to cut its carbon emissions and help address the environmental impact of flying. By forming major partnerships and joining important global campaigns, Singapore Airlines is not just following the crowd but leading the way for the whole aviation industry.
Recent SAF Agreements Push Decarbonization Forward
In May 2025, the Singapore Airlines Group made headlines by signing new agreements with Neste and World Energy. These two companies are both major players in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. SAF is a type of aviation fuel made from sources that are better for the environment, like waste products, instead of the usual fossil fuels. Using SAF helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the air each time a plane flies.
The agreements were completed in the first quarter of 2025. As reported by VisaVerge.com, they are expected to cut more than 9,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This is a big deal for an industry often criticized for its carbon footprint, as even small cuts in emissions from air travel can make a big difference when replicated across thousands of flights.
Here’s what the new agreements include:
- The group bought 1,000 tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel that is eligible for CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) from Neste. This fuel comes straight from Neste’s modern refinery in Singapore 🇸🇬.
- Singapore Airlines also bought about 2,000 tonnes of CORSIA-eligible SAF in the form of emissions reductions (often called “certificates”) from World Energy. This deal uses something called the Book & Claim Chain of Custody model, which is a way to keep track of where fuel comes from, even if it doesn’t go directly into the airline’s own tanks.
Both these purchases focus on fuel that meets CORSIA guidelines. CORSIA is an international program created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It sets rules for airlines around the globe to help stabilize and reduce CO2 emissions from international flights.
Strengthening Local SAF Supply Chains
This is not the first time Singapore Airlines has bought neat (or pure) SAF from Neste’s Singapore refinery. Neat SAF is simply fuel that hasn’t been mixed yet with other types of jet fuel. Each year, as more airports, airlines, and fuel makers join the movement, the regional ecosystem for sustainable fuel becomes stronger. This means it will become easier for airlines in Asia and nearby areas to find and buy clean fuel options.
Collaboration with World Energy, especially through the Book & Claim method, helps increase the use of low-carbon fuel options across borders. It lets airlines or companies pay for the emissions cuts made somewhere else, even though the actual fuel might not travel the same path as their physical flights.
Expanding Choice: Singapore Airlines and Aether Fuels
Singapore Airlines is also looking ahead by teaming up with up-and-coming companies in the sustainable fuel space. In February 2025, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aether Fuels. The partnership is about possibly buying neat SAF from Aether once the company’s new plants start operating at full size.
The details shared by Singapore Airlines are important for a few reasons:
- The agreement covers a potential five-year supply starting when Aether’s first plant opens. If things go well, there is an option to extend for another five years.
- Aether Fuels plans to use waste carbon feedstock and a special process called Aether Aurora technology. This new process can make the fuel cheaper to produce, can make more fuel using the same material, and is expected to create a higher yield than older methods.
- Once produced, the neat SAF will be blended with regular jet fuel at set ratios before being delivered to airports served by Singapore Airlines and Scoot, its low-cost branch.
This partnership is not just about getting more fuel. It is about helping new ideas and new companies get their big start in making aviation fuel cleaner.
A Clear Roadmap for Sustainability
Singapore Airlines is working with these new partners for a bigger reason – reaching its own ambitious climate goals. According to the company, its medium-term target is to use 5% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across its flights by 2030. This might sound like a small number, but in the context of airline fuel use, it represents a huge jump in the amount of clean fuel burned each year.
The group’s long-term goal is even bolder: net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Net-zero means the airline will balance any carbon dioxide it puts into the air by either removing some from the environment or buying “offsets” like planting trees or investing in other green projects.
A Leader’s Perspective
Ms. Lee Wen Fen, the airline’s Chief Sustainability Officer, has spoken about what these steps mean for the future. She said the deals with Neste, World Energy, and Aether Fuels are important steps in the airline’s “decarbonization journey.” This means Singapore Airlines is working to remove or reduce as much carbon as it can, moving closer to its net-zero target.
Ms. Lee talked about how these partnerships do more than help just one airline. By working with fuel producers and technology companies, Singapore Airlines can help speed up the switch to SAF in Asia and beyond. The more airlines and airports commit to clean fuel, the quicker the whole industry can change.
Being a Pioneer in Green Aviation
Singapore Airlines isn’t acting alone. It has joined forces with the World Economic Forum and GenZero in the Green Fuel Forward campaign. The main aim of this campaign is to boost the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Asia-Pacific region. This part of the world has some of the fastest-growing air travel markets, but it also faces major challenges in keeping those planes flying without adding lots of carbon pollution.
The Green Fuel Forward campaign brings together airlines, government groups, and fuel makers to get more support and money for projects that encourage greener flights. Being part of this campaign helps Singapore Airlines share what it’s learned and encourage other airlines to think about similar changes.
Why Timing Matters for the Industry
The aviation sector is under growing pressure to lower its carbon footprint. Air travel lets people and goods move quickly and easily around the world, but it also creates large amounts of greenhouse gases. Groups like the World Economic Forum see 2025 as a turning point year. That’s because new national action plans for aviation decarbonization will be sent to ICAO and will likely set the direction for the industry for years to come.
These plans can affect how airlines operate, what types of fuel they must use, and even the price of tickets. Airlines that are quick to adopt new standards – like Singapore Airlines – can better handle any new rules and help set best practices for others.
What Sets Singapore Airlines Apart
Here’s why the airline’s recent moves are so important for travelers, workers, and even people living near airports:
- Environmental Impact: Flying with Sustainable Aviation Fuel, even if it’s just part of the total fuel mix, results in lower carbon emissions. This means clearer skies and a smaller environmental toll.
- Regulatory Readiness: Programs like CORSIA are being adopted all around the world. By following its guidelines early, Singapore Airlines is staying ahead of possible government rules and showing itself as a responsible corporate citizen.
- Supply Chain Growth: By working with suppliers at home and abroad – from Neste in Singapore 🇸🇬 to World Energy globally – the airline is making sure there will be enough clean fuel for future expansion, not just for itself but for the wider region.
- Ongoing Innovation: Supporting technology leaders like Aether Fuels helps new processes come to market faster. This could make clean aviation fuel cheaper and more widely available in the future.
Global and Local Context
Singapore Airlines’ work in this area is part of a larger story. Governments, non-profits, and companies everywhere are trying to find ways to keep people connected while cutting pollution. Asia’s air traffic is growing quickly, making it even more important for the region’s airlines to find new solutions.
By joining hands with both new and well-known players in the fuel industry, Singapore Airlines is turning words and pledges into real-world action. The airline is also sharing data and supporting transparency, which helps everyone track progress.
What Is SAF and Why Does It Matter?
Many travelers may wonder: what makes Sustainable Aviation Fuel different from regular jet fuel? SAF uses renewable sources, like leftover fats and oils from cooking, waste from farming, or even parts of plants and garbage that would otherwise be thrown away. Some SAF is made using new chemical processes that turn waste gases or captured carbon into liquid fuel.
The result is a fuel that, when burned, releases fewer overall greenhouse gases compared to the fossil fuel it replaces. According to CORSIA, using sustainable fuel can cut flight emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s full life cycle. However, producing and distributing SAF is still more costly and complicated than regular fuel, which is why early leadership is so noticeable.
Making It Happen: Blending and Distribution
Before Sustainable Aviation Fuel reaches a plane, it’s usually mixed at set ratios with regular jet fuel (for example, airline fleets may use a blend of 10% SAF and 90% regular fuel). This makes sure the planes meet safety standards while still reducing emissions. The more available SAF becomes, the higher those blend ratios can go.
Airports close to SAF production centers – like Singapore’s Changi Airport – can help pilots and airlines switch fuel types more easily. However, not every airport has the facilities to store or blend SAF yet. The work done by airlines like Singapore Airlines helps make the business case for more airports to get ready.
Potential Impact on Fares, Jobs, and Global Reach
Some passengers wonder if using cleaner fuels will make tickets more expensive. At first, SAF usually costs more to produce than fossil fuels. But as larger orders are placed and technology gets better, the cost difference is expected to go down. Airlines may need to find a balance between keeping fares fair and investing in greener options.
On the other side, investing in new fuel technologies and infrastructure can create jobs and help local economies. Building and running SAF plants, setting up blending facilities, and handling logistics all require skilled workers.
Other Countries and Airlines Watching Closely
Singapore Airlines’ leadership in SAF adoption is being watched closely by other airlines, governments, and industry groups worldwide. Because air travel crosses borders, best practices and technology quickly spread from one company or country to another. Airlines that adopt clean fuel practices early can help shape new rules and standards.
Next Steps for SAF and Aviation Sustainability
To keep the progress going, airlines need more cooperation from governments, fuel makers, and international bodies like ICAO. Supportive policies, research grants, and clear rules around SAF and emissions targets will help the market grow faster.
Travelers who want to learn more about Sustainable Aviation Fuel or official government efforts to support clean air travel can visit the International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA resource page for the latest information.
In summary, Singapore Airlines 🇸🇬 is turning its sustainability goals into real, meaningful action. By taking steps now to bring in more Sustainable Aviation Fuel, support new suppliers like Aether Fuels, and work within international frameworks like CORSIA, the airline is setting an example for others. Its efforts show that fighting climate change and running a successful global airline can go hand-in-hand, especially when companies take the lead and share what works with the world.
Learn Today
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) → A renewable alternative to conventional jet fuel, made from waste, plants, or other sustainable sources to reduce emissions.
CORSIA → The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation; a global program to control and reduce airline CO2 emissions.
Book & Claim Chain of Custody → A system allowing airlines to purchase SAF emission reductions without directly receiving the physical fuel themselves.
Net-zero carbon emissions → A state where a company balances the CO2 it emits by removing the same amount or offsetting it elsewhere.
Aether Aurora technology → A proprietary process by Aether Fuels that uses waste carbon feedstock to efficiently produce higher yields of SAF.
This Article in a Nutshell
Singapore Airlines leads aviation sustainability by partnering with Neste, World Energy, and Aether Fuels for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply. Their strategic agreements reduce emissions, strengthen supply chains, and foster new technologies. Aiming for 5% SAF use by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, the airline sets an ambitious environmental standard.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Newark airport outage sparks debate on 6G technology for aviation infrastructure
• Trump’s Tariff Reset Shakes Marine, Aviation Markets
• NCDOT Revives Aviation Parkway Expansion in Morrisville
• Senator Ted Cruz proposes new support for veterans seeking aviation jobs
• Emirates airline posts record annual profit amid Dubai’s aviation growth
