DHL Group has expanded its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) partnership with IAG Cargo under a new five-year agreement aimed at reducing emissions from air freight operations.
The deal, combined with a previous 2025 renewal, will enable the use of around 240 million litres of SAF at London Heathrow Airport. This is expected to significantly cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from DHL Express shipments carried on British Airways flights, Cargo Airports & Airline Services reported.
Under the agreement, DHL Express will benefit from emissions reductions linked to about 40 million litres of neat SAF annually. Together with earlier arrangements, this is projected to reduce emissions by around 640,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
The SAF used in the partnership is certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification and is produced from sources such as used cooking oil. It can deliver up to 90% lower lifecycle emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
The collaboration will also be supported by a broader agreement between DHL Global Forwarding and IAG Cargo, strengthening efforts to secure long-term access to sustainable fuels across the group’s logistics operations.
This expanded framework could help the DHL Group achieve more than 1 million tonnes of emissions reductions over time, as demand grows for low-carbon logistics solutions.
Officials from both companies said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to scaling the use of SAF and providing more sustainable air freight options, while ensuring reliable fuel supply for future operations.
