(PORTLAND) Delta Air Lines, working with Shell and the Port of Portland, completed its first commercial-scale delivery of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Portland International Airport (PDX) in early September 2025, a step that signals how existing fuel systems can handle cleaner alternatives at scale.
More than 400,000 gallons of blended SAF entered PDX’s privately owned fuel network after Shell moved neat fuel to the city’s Zenith Terminal, blended it to meet aviation standards, and distributed it to the airport by barge, truck, and pipeline.
What happened and why it matters
The delivery, announced September 3–4, brings a national milestone to Portland and puts the Pacific Northwest in a leadership role for low-carbon flight. Delta said the fuel was produced in the United States from waste-derived feedstock, then blended to satisfy all regulatory rules for commercial use. Airport officials called the move a practical proof that airlines and airports can cut pollution today while planning for deeper reductions over the next decade.
Delta’s SAF Director, Charlotte Lollar, pointed to the importance of teaming up across the supply chain and making use of infrastructure already on the ground at PDX. By moving SAF through familiar terminals, tanks, and pipes, the partnership kept costs lower and showed other airports how to repeat the process. Shell handled sourcing, blending, and delivery logistics; the Port of Portland coordinated airport access and highlighted community benefits, including cleaner air around flight paths and maintenance areas.
Industry data often varies, but aviation agencies and energy researchers agree SAF can deliver large lifecycle reductions in climate pollution when compared with traditional jet fuel. In this case, Delta and the Port cited estimates that SAF can cut emissions by more than 80% across its full production and use cycle, depending on the feedstock and pathway.
For an airport with strong cargo and passenger traffic like PDX, even partial SAF use can translate into measurable progress toward local air quality and state climate goals.
The five-step operation (a repeatable model)
The operation unfolded in five clear steps that others can copy:
- SAF production in the U.S. from waste-based feedstock.
- Transport to the Zenith Terminal in Portland, where blending occurred.
- Blending with conventional jet fuel to meet strict aviation specifications.
- Distribution to PDX via barge, truck, and pipeline.
- Integration into PDX’s fuel system for use on Delta flights.
This sequence demonstrates that airports can adopt SAF without waiting for entirely new infrastructure.
Roles and responsibilities
- Delta: Program lead on airline side, integrating SAF into operations and reporting usage.
- Shell: Sourcing, blending, and delivery logistics — moved neat SAF to Zenith Terminal and handled blending.
- Port of Portland: Coordinated airport access, community engagement, and operational support.
Port of Portland Chief Aviation Officer Dan Pippenger emphasized that reliable supply, policy backing, and predictable demand must move in tandem. He urged supportive state and local measures that help expand storage, blending capacity, and long-term contracts so airlines can plan larger buys. Those policy steps align with federal efforts to scale cleaner fuels nationwide.
For background on goals and standards shaping SAF growth in the United States, see the U.S. Department of Energy’s overview of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which explains how the fuel is made, how it’s certified, and why its climate benefits vary by feedstock and process stages. Readers can consult the DOE resource at the Alternative Fuels Data Center: afdc.energy.gov/fuels/sustainable-aviation-fuel.
Supply challenges and market context
Even with the Portland success, supply remains the main bottleneck. Airline demand is rising faster than producers can deliver, and global output today would still fall short of fueling the industry for even a single week.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the PDX operation stands out because it proves airports can pull SAF through long-established systems without waiting for new pipelines or tanks, but it also exposes the pressure on producers to scale up quickly and cut prices.
Delta framed PDX as the latest node in its broader SAF rollouts, following earlier commercial-scale deliveries at Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) and Detroit (DTW). The company employs nearly 4,500 people across the Pacific Northwest and runs a robust schedule from PDX, giving it both the worker base and flight volume to support ongoing SAF usage here.
Delta has tied these efforts to its long-term target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and said SAF will remain a core tool in that plan, alongside more efficient planes and smarter operations.
Infrastructure lessons for U.S. airports
The Portland delivery shows that introducing SAF does not require a complete overhaul of airport systems. Fuel farm operators and airlines can blend certified SAF offsite, then move it with conventional fuels through terminals and pipelines, provided quality controls and custody tracking remain tight.
That approach lowers barriers for mid-sized airports that lack funds or space for major retrofits but want to start cutting emissions tied to flight operations.
Key practical points for airport authorities:
- Use what exists: Linking to regional terminals and common-carrier pipelines can keep early costs down.
- Blending compliance: Meeting aviation specs through approved blending is essential for safety and engine performance.
- Data and reporting: Set up clear tracking systems so airlines can report SAF use to investors, regulators, and customers.
- Community health: Targeting SAF to flights at times or locations with sensitive air sheds can deliver local health gains beyond climate benefits.
Policy signals and next steps
While this was Portland’s first commercial-scale delivery, Delta, Shell, and the Port say more is coming. Stakeholders are pressing for state and local incentives that support new production facilities, storage, and blending, and for programs that help close the price gap between SAF and conventional jet fuel.
Federal partnerships also matter. Government initiatives — including research grants and lifecycle modeling standards — give producers and airports clearer guideposts as they expand supply chains.
Market development still hinges on reliable demand. Corporate travel buyers, cargo carriers, and public agencies can help by signing multi-year agreements that signal volume and price. Airlines can continue to spread deliveries across several hubs, which creates operational resilience and avoids overloading a single local supply.
Portland’s position in West Coast logistics offers an edge: marine access for barge deliveries, strong trucking networks, and pipeline ties that reach into the airport’s fuel system. That blend of assets lowers friction for follow-on SAF shipments. The region’s track record on clean fuels policy could also play a role if lawmakers build specific support for aviation-grade products alongside road fuels.
People, jobs, and community benefits
The human side matters:
- Ground crews who spend long shifts near fuel trucks and gates stand to benefit from cleaner blends that reduce certain air pollutants.
- Nearby neighborhoods gain when airports and airlines cut emissions linked to daily operations.
- Travelers see few changes day to day — the blended fuel works the same in aircraft engines — but many now prefer carriers that can show documented progress on climate.
- For workers in new SAF plants, expanded production can open skilled jobs in refining, logistics, and quality control.
Delta urged interested readers to follow program updates and sustainability reports on its News Hub: news.delta.com/category/sustainability. The Port of Portland posts operational updates and community information in the PDX newsroom: flypdx.com/newsroom. Both channels said they will share future delivery schedules and policy developments as they evolve.
Final takeaway
Ultimately, Portland’s milestone suggests a practical playbook other U.S. airports can adapt right away:
- Confirm compliant blending offsite.
- Move SAF through shared logistics (barge, truck, pipeline).
- Validate specifications at the airport gate.
- Publish clear data.
It’s a practical recipe for progress that gives airlines and communities a way to shrink aviation’s footprint while the broader supply chain scales up.
This Article in a Nutshell
In early September 2025 Delta Air Lines, with Shell and the Port of Portland, completed the first commercial-scale delivery of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to Portland International Airport, delivering over 400,000 gallons of U.S.-produced, waste-derived SAF. Shell transported neat SAF to the Zenith Terminal, blended it to aviation specifications, and distributed the blended fuel to PDX by barge, truck and pipeline for use on Delta flights. The operation followed a five-step, repeatable model demonstrating that existing terminals, tanks and pipelines can integrate SAF without major new infrastructure. Partners estimate lifecycle emissions reductions above 80% depending on feedstock. Key challenges remain: limited global supply, higher costs, and the need for policy support, storage expansion and long-term purchase agreements to scale production. Portland’s milestone serves as a practical template for other airports aiming to reduce aviation emissions while supply ramps up.
