JetBlue Airways has signed a 12-month agreement with Florida-based World Fuel Services to facilitate the delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help power some of the carrier's flights from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The SAF blend will be supplied by Texas-based Valero Energy Corp., also a party to the accord. JetBlue said it expects to take delivery of at least 1 million gallons of SAF with an option to purchase up to 4 million more gallons.
World Fuel Services will “provide the logistics and distribution of blended SAF as part of this agreement,” JetBlue says in a statement. “The blended SAF will be made available via existing infrastructure, including the Colonial Pipeline,” which spans around 5,500 mi. between Houston and Linden, New Jersey, near New York City.
The airline adds it has “long been interested in bringing blended SAF to the northeast and hopes to maximize the supply through relationships with other like-minded New York businesses.” JetBlue calls the agreement the “first step” to developing a SAF market in New York.
Sara Bogdan, JetBlue's managing director of sustainability and environmental social governance, says the airline will leverage Valero's “globally recognized expertise in energy markets.” She notes the program will use “existing jet fuel distribution infrastructure … Truly maximizing the impact of this opportunity will require engagement across all sectors.”
The announcement of the deal to bring SAF to JFK comes as United Airlines prepares this month to start using SAF produced by Neste on some flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which will become the fifth airport at which United utilizes SAF.