The International Airlines Group (IAG) has signed a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchase agreement with e-SAF producer Infinium, which plans to supply the UK market with power-to-liquid e-SAF from late 2026.
Under the terms of the ten-year agreement, Infinium will supply the airline group with e-SAF to support any of its five member airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Vueling, Iberia and LEVEL.
The deal supports the scale-up of e-SAF, which is manufactured through a process that converts water, waste CO2 and renewable power into fuel. This new class of fuel is not encumbered by feedstock limitations, has a higher degree of emissions reductions versus conventional jet fuel and has a relatively low land and water-use footprint.
Jonathon Counsell, IAG’s group sustainability officer commented: “So far, we’re on track to deliver our 10% 2030 SAF goal and agreements with innovators like Infinium, are key to reducing this target.”
He continued: “What the industry needs is an additional policy support to attract funds to construct SAF plants and reduce aviation’s reliance on fossil fuels.”
The e-SAF provided to IAG will be produced at Infinium’s Project Roadrunner facility, located in the US, with Project Roadrunner set to be the largest producer of e-SAF once fully operational.
Commenting further was Robert Schuetzle, Infinium’s CEO, he said: “We are proud that IAG has chosen Infinium to help towards its sustainability goals. Long-term bankable commitments like these are what drive the ability to ramp up production of e-SAF which is a critical milestone for the airline industry and for eFuels as an alternative to both fossil-based fuels and prior generations of SAF.”
As a part of its sustainability strategy, IAG is also investing in new aircraft and is advancing carbon removals to reduce emissions from its operations.