FedEx has extended its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program in the U.S., beginning deliveries of blended SAF at two additional airports: Chicago-O’Hare International Airport and Miami International Airport. The October fuel deliveries mark the company’s second and third major SAF deployments at U.S. airports within six months, following its first deployment at Los Angeles International Airport in May.
“Each executed agreement signals to fuel producers that airlines are willing and eager collaborators to help scale the SAF market,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, FedEx chief sustainability officer and vice president of Environmental Affairs. “The aviation industry still faces a mismatch between available SAF supply and carrier demand, but we are encouraged by early signs of increased SAF production globally this year.”
Chicago-O’Hare International Airport
At O’Hare, FedEx will receive a total of one million gallons of neat SAF blended at a minimum 30% mix from Air bp. With its first delivery in October, FedEx became the first U.S. all-cargo airline to purchase and deploy SAF at the airport.
“Existing fuel infrastructure and enabling policy conditions at the state level made sourcing SAF at O’Hare a logical next step in our alternative fuel procurement strategy,” Blanks Ellis said.
Miami International Airport
At Miami International Airport, FedEx has started receiving approximately three million gallons of blended SAF at a minimum 30% blend from AEG.
“With FedEx flights from Miami serving Latin America and the Caribbean daily, we are proud to see our Miami hub leading the way in sustainable fuel adoption,” said Luiz R. Vasconcelos, president of FedEx Latin America and the Caribbean. “This milestone reinforces our commitment and shows our customers that sustainability is not just a corporate goal—it is a regional priority. From SAF deployment in Miami to the rollout of electric delivery vehicles in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil, we are embedding sustainable innovation across our operations and contributing to our global sustainability strategy.”
SAF Part of Broader Aviation Sustainability Efforts
Neat SAF is mixed with traditional jet fuel before use, while blended SAF is a “drop-in” fuel that does not require changes to aircraft engines or fueling infrastructure. FedEx aims to source 30% of its fuel from alternative sources, on a blended basis, by 2030.
SAF is a key part of FedEx’s broader aviation sustainability and fuel efficiency strategy. While SAF and conventional jet fuel have similar emissions profiles when burned, SAF production can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional fuels. To meet industry-wide emissions goals, airlines must also focus on reducing overall fuel consumption and improving operational efficiency alongside SAF adoption.
Aircraft modernization and other fuel-saving initiatives allowed FedEx to avoid using 140 million gallons of jet fuel in FY 2024, saving the company $400 million. In the same year, FedEx met its previous target of reducing aircraft emissions intensity by 30% from a 2005 baseline and has since set a new goal of a 40% reduction by 2034.
