Delta Air Lines, in partnership with Shell and Portland International Airport (PDX), has delivered more than 400,000 gallons of blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into the PDX fuel system. The move marks the first commercial-scale SAF uplift at the airport and expands Delta’s use of the renewable fuel in the U.S, reports Delta News Hub.
The batch was produced domestically from waste-based feedstock. Shell supplied the neat SAF shipment to Zenith Terminal in Portland, where it was blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulations. The fuel was then transported to PDX by barge, truck, and pipeline. Earlier this month, the blended SAF entered the airport’s private fuel supply system.
“Each SAF delivery shows how working together can make this cleaner fuel more widely available,” said Charlotte Lollar, Delta’s director of SAF. “By using existing infrastructure and teaming up with partners, we can bring SAF to more airports and show that it works at scale.”
Port of Portland Chief Aviation Officer Dan Pippenger called the step important for local communities. “Bringing SAF to PDX can improve air quality and cut greenhouse gas emissions. We now need policies and infrastructure to expand its use,” he said.
SAF, made from renewable sources, can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. While it can be used in current aircraft and fuel systems, production remains limited and costly. Industry estimates suggest current global supply would not fuel airlines for even one week.
Delta is working with local partners, including the Port of Portland, to develop a long-term SAF market. The airline is also pushing for state and federal incentives to lower costs and expand production. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon played a role in creating the first federal SAF incentives, including the 40B Blenders Tax Credit and the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which Congress extended through 2029.
The PDX milestone follows earlier SAF deliveries at Delta hubs in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit. Delta says the achievement shows SAF can be integrated into diverse airport systems and scaled over time.
Delta has a strong presence in Oregon, offering nonstop service from Portland to nearly all of its hub airports and connecting customers to more than 300 destinations. The airline employs about 4,500 people in the Pacific Northwest and partners with local and national organizations on community initiatives.
