United Airlines plans to purchase sustainable jet fuel at O’Hare International Airport | Nerd Wallet

United Airlines will purchase one million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at O’Hare International Airport by the end of the year, with the first shipment scheduled for August. The fuel at O’Hare is derived from fats, oils and lubricants such as used cooking oil, but can also be made from agricultural waste.

The airline said the initiative is made possible by tax breaks passed by the Illinois General Assembly.

“The tax credits they promoted and implemented have encouraged the adoption of SAF by airlines like United and contributed to the growth of the overall market,” United President Brett Hart said during a press conference on Wednesday.

In 2023, Illinois passed an incentive to support sustainable aviation fuel and created a $1.50 per gallon tax credit to support the supply and use of the fuel within the state.

“Our persistence in fighting climate change was the impetus for the creation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit. And it is our world-class agriculture, our developing infrastructure and our state’s natural advantages that position us to win,” said Governor JB Pritzker.

SAF can replace conventional aviation fuel and any aircraft should be able to fly with it without the need for costly modifications. Existing regulations only allow a 50 percent blend of SAF to conventional aviation fuel for commercial flights.

Compared to jet fuel, the fuel can emit up to 85% less carbon over its entire life cycle.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois ranked fifth in the country in jet fuel consumption in 2022.

O’Hare is the fifth airport in the world where United has purchased SAF for operational use, giving the airline more SAF airports than any other U.S. carrier. The airline also uses SAF in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam.