The aviation industry, a notorious carbon culprit, is getting a green jolt. On May 20, 2025, FedEx, the world’s largest express cargo airline, announced a landmark deal to buy over 3 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Neste, the leading SAF producer, for its Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) cargo flights. This marks FedEx’s first major U.S. SAF deployment, covering roughly a fifth of its annual jet fuel use at LAX. With aviation accounting for 2% of global CO2 emissions, can this move help FedEx hit its 2040 carbon-neutral goal and push the industry toward a cleaner future?

A Big Bet on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

FedEx’s agreement with Neste, a Finland-based renewable fuel giant, secures 8,800 metric tons (over 3 million gallons) of blended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ for LAX operations over one year, starting in May 2025. The blend includes at least 30% “neat” SAF—unblended fuel made from renewable waste like used cooking oil and animal fat—and is certified to cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel, per Neste. This purchase, the largest SAF deal by a U.S. cargo airline at LAX, aligns with FedEx’s $2 billion plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2040, focusing on electrification, sustainable energy, and carbon sequestration.

“Our aviation network is our biggest fuel user and our greatest chance to cut emissions,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, FedEx’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “

The deal builds on FedEx’s green aviation efforts, including a 2018 Boeing ecoDemonstrator test flight using 100% SAF and ongoing fleet modernization. In fiscal 2024, these efforts helped FedEx cut aviation emissions intensity by 30% from a 2005 baseline.

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Why SAF Matters?

Aviation accounts for 12% of transportation-related CO2 emissions, per the International Civil Aviation Organization, and SAF is seen as the fastest way to decarbonize it, potentially slashing 65% of the sector’s emissions by 2050, per the International Air Transport Association. Unlike fossil jet fuel, SAF is a “drop-in” fuel, compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure when blended up to 50%. Neste’s SAF, produced from renewable waste, is already used by airlines like United and Emirates at airports from Chicago to Singapore.

Neste’s global SAF capacity stands at 1.5 million tons (515 million gallons) annually, with its Rotterdam refinery adding 500,000 tons in 2025. By 2027, Neste aims to hit 6.8 million tons of renewable fuels, including 2.2 million tons of SAF, driven by policies like the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. Carl Nyberg, Neste’s Senior VP of Commercial Renewable Products, called the FedEx deal a step toward “leveraging lower-emission solutions” for air cargo’s global role.

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Challenges and Headwinds

SAF isn’t a silver bullet. It’s pricier than conventional fuel—$2-$4 per gallon versus $1-$2 for fossil jet fuel, per S&P Global—though FedEx hasn’t disclosed costs. Scaling production is tough; Neste’s 1.5 million tons meets only a fraction of the 3 billion gallons the U.S. aims for by 2030 under the SAF Grand Challenge. Supply chains for waste feedstocks like cooking oil are limited, and competing uses (e.g., renewable diesel) add pressure. A 2024 study in Nature questioned SAF’s lifecycle emissions, noting land-use changes for feedstocks could offset benefits, though Neste’s waste-based model mitigates this.

Policy hurdles loom too. The U.S. EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard offers credits, but Trump’s 2025 tax bill tweaks, amending the 45Z clean fuel credit while axing other green incentives, create uncertainty. Meanwhile, SAF skeptics argue its low penetration—0.2% of global fuel in 2024—makes it a drop in the bucket compared to aviation’s 1 billion tons of annual CO2.

FedEx faces internal challenges too. Jet fuel drives 60% of its operational emissions, and with 647 planes burning 90 million gallons monthly, this LAX deal covers just 3% of that. Scaling SAF across its global network will require bigger deals and infrastructure, like LAXFUEL’s barge-based delivery system, first used for SAF in 2022.

What’s Next?

FedEx’s LAX deployment is a milestone, but it’s just the start. The company aims to source 30% of its jet fuel from alternatives by 2030, leaning on SAF, fleet upgrades, and flight optimization. Its collaboration with Boeing and others, like the 2018 100% SAF test, shows a knack for innovation, but the SAF market needs a turbocharge—more refineries, better incentives, and global standards like ICAO’s CORSIA, capping aviation emissions at 2020 levels through 2035.

This deal shows what’s possible when industry leaders like FedEx and Neste team up.

As Richard Smith, FedEx’s COO, put it, “This advances our sustainability goals and bolsters the aviation industry’s push for SAF.”

Whether it sparks a broader shift depends on whether the SAF market can scale fast enough to match aviation’s soaring ambitions.

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