Airline Uses Renewable Biofuel for Regular Flights

In March 2016, United Airlines started using sustainable aviation biofuels on regular commercial flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco making it one of the first U.S. airlines to use commercial-scale volumes beyond demonstration and test flights. United is using the biofuel in its daily operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), storing and delivering it in the same way as traditional fuel.

Flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco will operate with the renewable fuel from AltAir Paramount for two weeks while integrating the fuel into its regular operations at LAX. The flights will use a blend of 30 percent renewable jet fuel and 70 percent conventional jet kerosene (see video). United has agreed to buy up to 15 million gallons of sustainable biofuel from AltAir Paramount over a three-year period.

A revamped refinery in Paramount, Calif, converts non-edible, natural oils and agricultural wastes into 35 million gallons per year of jet fuel. The ASTM-standard fuel is expected to provide a greater than 60 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared with fuel produced from traditional petroleum. AltAir is pursuing certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, a global sustainability standard and certification system that recognizes biomass and biofuel producers that adhere to social responsibility and environmental criteria.