You told us climate change matters – we’re listening

Recently we asked our local community what matters most to them and what people told us is they want action on climate change, with aircraft emissions a top issue. That’s why we’re proud to share a big step we’ve taken to help cut carbon emissions.

Almost 2 million litres of SAF touches down at Sydney Airport

In May, nearly two million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) arrived at Sydney Airport - the largest delivery of its kind in Australian history.

This shipment was made possible through a partnership between Sydney Airport, Qantas and Ampol, supported by Qantas' SAF coalition partners. It was delivered to Ampol’s nearby Kurnell terminal and then blended with regular fuel before entering Sydney Airport’s fuel supply system. From there, it’s being used on flights taking off from our runways.

Using SAF in aircrafts means fewer emissions, which is a win for everyone, especially future generations. This single delivery of fuel could power the equivalent of 900 flights from Sydney to Auckland on Qantas' 737 aircraft, reducing the resulting carbon emissions from those flights by a total estimated 3,400 tonnes.

What is SAF and how is it produced?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is a cleaner alternative to traditional jet fuel. Unlike regular fuel made from fossil fuels, SAF is produced from a range of renewable and waste-derived sources, like used cooking oil, feedstock and even council-collected waste. These types of fuels, known as biogenic SAF, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over their lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel.

At the moment, SAF is mixed in with regular jet fuel and can be used safely in today’s planes. Over time, as the technology develops, we’ll likely see higher blends in flights.

The great news? It works with existing fuel infrastructure, meaning Sydney Airport is already set up to handle it.

Why is SAF so important to Sydney Airport?

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton says the airport is ready to help lead the shift to lower emissions flying.

“Sydney Airport accounts for nearly 40 percent of Australia’s total aviation fuel uplift, so we have a big opportunity to be a leader in the development of a domestic SAF industry,” he said.

“NSW is uniquely placed to develop this industry, as a major producer of important feedstocks like canola. Most of Australia’s canola harvest currently goes offshore to be turned into biofuels by other nations.”

“With the right policy settings at a state and federal level, and governments working in partnership with industry, NSW can become a global leader on SAF - creating local jobs, supporting local industry, and fuelling more sustainable flights in the future,” Scott Charlton said.

A partnership that’s paving the way

The SAF delivery follows the signing of a new agreement between Sydney Airport and Qantas to work together on building a strong local SAF industry.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said, “The creation of a domestic sustainable aviation fuel industry is key to our efforts towards the decarbonisation of aviation, increasing Australia’s fuel security and creating thousands of new jobs across our economy.”

“This announcement is a proud moment for Qantas and demonstrates the demand that exists for more sustainable travel. As the national carrier, we have a role to play in reducing the impact of air travel on the environment, but we can’t do it alone. We pick up 70% of our fuel in Australia so we’re looking forward to working closely with the government to chart the next course for SAF in Australia. The alignment of industry and government will be critical to establishing and scaling an industry here,” she said.

What’s next?

This first SAF delivery is just the start. Our ambition is for half of all jet fuel used at Sydney Airport to be sustainable by 2050.

You can read more about the steps Sydney Airport is taking in our approach to decarbonisation HERE.

We will also continue to talk with our local community about what matters most to them, and we’d like to thank all the residents who took part in our recent surveys.

Climate change can feel like a huge challenge but moments like this show that progress is possible and that your voice is helping guide the journey.

Read more about the SAF delivery to Sydney Airport in our media release.