San Francisco, CA — In a landmark agreement, California has secured a commitment from Airlines for America (A4A) and leading airlines to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across the state’s aviation sector. Unveiled at San Francisco International Airport, this collaboration between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and A4A aims to expand SAF availability to 200 million gallons by 2035, a tenfold increase over current levels. This would enable SAF to supply approximately 40% of intrastate travel demand in California, underscoring the state’s dedication to cleaner air and innovative climate solutions.
“We’ve put the tools in place to incentivize cleaner fuels and spur innovation.” – Gov. Gavin Newsom
Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the partnership’s importance in the fight against emissions: “We’ve put the tools in place to incentivize cleaner fuels and spur innovation, creating opportunities like this to radically change how Californians can travel cleaner.” CARB Chair Liane Randolph echoed this sentiment, highlighting California’s dual focus on environmental and economic benefits.
Kevin Welsh, Vice President of Environmental Affairs at A4A, praised the initiative, “This partnership reflects the type of collaboration between government and the private sector necessary to achieve ambitious climate goals, reinforcing our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future for air travel.”
A4A’s member airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, have committed to this SAF target as part of broader efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Diana Birkett Rakow, SVP of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, stressed SAF’s pivotal role, noting “significant work is still needed to make SAF commercially viable at scale.”
The partnership’s goals are supported by California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which has spurred the development of alternative fuels for the aviation sector. Together with A4A, CARB will work with SAF producers, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to identify new policies and incentives to enhance SAF’s availability and cost competitiveness.
Beyond the 200 million-gallon target, CARB and A4A will establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Working Group to address logistical and regulatory challenges, convening annually to assess progress. CARB also plans to launch a public website with real-time SAF data for California, keeping the public informed on SAF’s impact on air quality and climate goals.
The partnership aligns with the U.S. government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, a national effort to scale SAF production. Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer, lauded CARB and A4A’s advocacy, stating, “SAF is the best-known lever we have to decarbonize aviation. We’re proud of our current offtake agreements and will continue working with CARB to accelerate SAF development.”
As California and its airline partners forge ahead, the state’s SAF push sets a national example, positioning the aviation industry to transition toward sustainable fuel alternatives at a faster pace.
