British Airways has signed a multi-year agreement with renewable fuels producer EcoCeres to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reinforcing the airline’s efforts to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions and move towards its net-zero goals.

The partnership is expected to cut approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions – equivalent to the carbon footprint of around 240,000 economy class passengers flying return between London and New York – compared with the same volume of conventional jet fuel.

EcoCeres will supply SAF derived entirely from waste-based biomass feedstocks, including used cooking oil. The fuel offers a lifecycle carbon reduction of up to 80% compared with traditional jet fuel.

Matti Lievonen, chief executive of EcoCeres, commented: “We are proud to partner with British Airways in this strategic agreement to jointly tackle greenhouse gas emissions in aviation. Our commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and this partnership exemplifies our dedication to providing innovative fuel solutions that will help the aviation industry meet its environmental targets. Together, we are contributing to the broader effort of reducing emissions in transportation.”

The agreement supports British Airways’ goal of powering 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030. Under its BA Better World programme, the airline has already incorporated SAF into 2.7% of its total fuel use in 2024, contributing to a 13% reduction in carbon intensity since 2019.

Carrie Harris, director of sustainability at British Airways, said: “At British Airways, we see SAF as an important part of our BA Better World strategy. In 2024 alone, SAF accounted for 2.7% of British Airways’ total fuel use and is contributing to our achievement of a 13% reduction in our carbon intensity since 2019. That’s why this new agreement with EcoCeres is so exciting – it’s another important step forward on our journey to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

The agreement marks a milestone for Hong Kong-based EcoCeres, which is scaling up its SAF production capabilities as it pursues further partnerships in the aviation sector.

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