FIA 2026: Air Canada and Airbus launch SAF joint venture
Air Canada and Airbus have announced plans to jointly invest up to C$13.7 million (US$10 million) to help accelerate the development of a commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry in Canada.
The partners intend to establish a Sustainability Co-Investment Platform aimed at supporting a Canadian SAF project through to a final investment decision (FID). The initiative is designed to stimulate both SAF production and demand, while encouraging government support to create the policy framework needed for the sector to scale.
In an announcement made at the Farnborough Airshow this afternoon, spokespeople from the companies said the investment could act as a catalyst for the wider Canadian SAF market, helping to improve fuel availability and competitiveness while supporting aviation’s long-term decarbonisation goals.
The companies will continue to work with federal and provincial governments, as well as the Canadian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (C-SAF), to promote policies that encourage domestic SAF production and maintain affordable air travel.
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Valerie Durand, Vice President, Airport Affairs, Corporate Real Estate and Sustainability at Air Canada, said: “Through this initiative with Airbus, we are supporting domestic SAF production, helping corporate customers reduce travel-related emissions and contributing to aviation’s energy transition in Canada.”
Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications, added: “Decarbonising aviation will require long-term investment and collaboration across the industry. This platform will help stimulate both the production of and demand for SAF in Canada, while creating economic opportunities and supporting the sector’s climate ambitions.”
Alongside the investment platform, Airbus has signed a five-year agreement with Air Canada’s Leave Less Travel Programme, which allows corporate customers to purchase SAF environmental attributes linked to their business travel.
As part of the agreement, Airbus will purchase environmental attributes associated with more than 60,000 litres of SAF. Air Canada will use the programme to help track and reduce the lifecycle emissions generated by Airbus employees’ business travel.
The companies said such programmes play an important role in supporting SAF market growth by creating demand for lower-carbon aviation fuels.