NetJets is expanding its Global Sustainability Program with plans to purchase enough sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for all of its flights from San Francisco and its base in Columbus, Ohio, the company says.
The program is in partnership with Signature Flight Support. NetJets plans to purchase up to 3 million gal. of SAF produced by Neste, a provider of renewable jet fuel and diesel.
“This commitment amounts to an unprecedented volume of sustainable fuel in the private aviation space and supports the continued industry availability of SAF, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel,” NetJets explained, adding it is exploring opportunities to purchase additional fuel in the U.S. and Europe.
NetJets Europe has been carbon-neutral since 2012 at levels above EU regulations to participate in its Emissions Trading System, which imposes a cap and cost on emissions but does not require carbon-neutrality, the company said. NetJets will offset its administrative and training flights in the U.S. beginning in 2021. Those flights total about 1,600 a year.
NetJets’ Blue Skies program encourages its fractional owners to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their flights by buying the equivalent amount of carbon credits. The company partners with ClimateCare to offset emissions through projects to protect forests, capture and destroy landfill gas, and increase renewable-energy distribution.
As of October, NetJets fractional owners in the U.S. have offset 75,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. In Europe, owners have offset more than 1 million metric tons.
“Our sustainable aviation fuel purchase is crucial for the continued availability of the product, and we’re excited to help create that opportunity, as well as to announce the next phase of our Global Sustainability Program,” said Brad Ferrell, NetJets executive vice president of administrative services. “There remains more to be done in the sustainable aviation space, and we look forward to being on the cutting edge of those innovations and evolving this program in our ongoing efforts to address sustainability in the air, on the ground and with our team members.”
