In an effort to meet its net-zero emissions goal by 2050, WestJet announced that it has purchased the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied in Canada by Shell Aviation.
"WestJet is committed to enhancing our position as a first mover in sustainability technologies. Just as we pioneered advancements in Winglets and drag reduction, WestJet proudly stands as the first airline to acquire SAF by Shell in Canada," said Angela Avery, WestJet Group executive vice president and chief people, corporate and sustainability Officer. "Thanks to Shell's world-class fuel supply chain and WestJet's proven track record in sustainability, this first step sets the stage for future collaboration and innovation to encourage investments in this important lever for decarbonization."
"With the right regulatory and investment environment, SAF remains one of the more viable and scalable in-sector options for reducing emissions in the 2050 timeframe and has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% when used neat, compared with conventional aviation fuel," WestJet said in a statement.
"We are delighted to supply WestJet with SAF, as we continue to support our customers on their decarbonization journeys, while simultaneously building out the supply chain in Canada to enable more customers to access SAF," said Christine Bassitt, GM, Shell Aviation, Americas.
To supply WestJet with SAF, Shell Aviation uses a program called Avelia.
"Avelia uses blockchain to provide clear and transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network. Environmental attributes can be allocated to both airlines and business customers while avoiding issues such as double counting.
"This means corporations can confidently view verified lifecycle emissions reductions from SAF today while working to establish sufficient SAF to meet their future net zero or science-based targets," the airline stated.
Westjet shared that its focus areas for sustainable aviation include reducing emissions intensity, progressive fleet modernization plans and advocacy for sustainable aviation fuel production in Canada.
