Wheels Up Experience Inc. has announced the launch of its new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program. Now, Wheels Up charter customers who opt into this initiative will be able to book a private jet or group charter flight and contribute towards decarbonizing aviation by supporting SAF. Wheels Up will partner with Delta Air Lines to purchase SAF, allowing private fliers to participate in the program, regardless of their flight operator or departure airport.
SAF is a renewable alternative to conventional jet fuel, derived from more sustainable feedstocks. It is developed through advanced processes that significantly reduce its carbon footprint over the fuel’s lifecycle, as compared to traditional fossil-based jet fuel; it's also significant in its drop-in capability, meaning it can be blended with traditional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft engines without modification. By using SAF in this immediate and practical way, airlines can achieve up to an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions.
While SAF is expected to play a critical role in decarbonizing aviation, it remains scarce today—in 2024, it only accounted for 0.3 percent of global jet fuel production, and it has very limited availability. In this context, it is impractical to ensure that every customer wishing to “fly on SAF” has physical SAF at their airport, much less loaded into their specific flights. Through Wheels Up’s program, charter customers determine the amount of SAF they wish to support, and Wheels Up coordinates with Delta to direct customer contributions through the Delta SAF Program.
By integrating SAF into Wheels Up’s charter infrastructure, Wheels Up and its customers have the opportunity to help increase the demand for SAF. Such market frameworks are anticipated to play a critical role in scaling SAF production and use in the coming years. To support this initiative, Wheels Up has partnered with Chooose, a software platform specializing in lower-carbon aviation solutions.
With the launch of this SAF program, Wheels Up is taking a proactive step towards helping to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint. This introduction empowers customers to make more sustainable travel choices and contribute towards decarbonizing aviation by supporting SAF.
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