Singapore Airlines Signs Deal with Aether Fuels for 4,800 Tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has signed a binding offtake agreement with Aether Fuels to purchase up to 4,800 tonnes of next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over three years, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. Announced on 28 October 2026, the agreement makes SIA the first airline customer for Project Beacon, Aether's planned commercial SAF production facility at Aster's refining complex on Pulau Bukom, Singapore. The partnership supports the development of alternative aviation fuels as the airline works towards its ambition of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Project Beacon will use Aether's proprietary Aurora technology to convert waste carbon feedstocks, including biomethane and industrial waste gases, into sustainable aviation fuel. The technology builds on the Fischer-Tropsch conversion process and offers an alternative to the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) pathway, which relies primarily on lipid-based feedstocks such as used cooking oils and fats. Aether intends for the resulting fuel to be certified under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), supporting the development of fuels that meet recognised sustainability requirements.

 

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The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by Singapore Airlines and Aether Fuels in 2025 and establishes a more concrete commercial commitment to the project. Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore Airlines, said, "Supporting the development and adoption of SAF, and securing future supplies, are integral to SIA’s ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050." The airline expects the partnership to support additional lower-carbon fuel production capacity in Singapore while strengthening the country's aviation sustainability ecosystem.

Aether Fuels also plans to expand its manufacturing capacity beyond Project Beacon, targeting the start-up of its first large-scale commercial plant by 2031, with production capacity at least ten times greater than the Singapore facility. Conor Madigan, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aether Fuels, described the binding agreement as "an important next step and a strong signal of committed demand from a leading global airline". He highlighted Singapore's aviation infrastructure, investment environment and sustainability policies as important factors supporting the company's commercialisation plans.

The agreement reflects growing efforts by airlines and fuel developers to diversify SAF production beyond conventional feedstocks. Converting waste-derived gases into aviation fuel could expand the supply of lower-carbon alternatives, although actual emissions savings will depend on feedstock sourcing, production processes and lifecycle performance. The 4,800-tonne commitment represents future fuel purchases rather than deliveries already completed, with commercial production and certification remaining important milestones for Project Beacon.

 

Source: Aether Fuels