UNITED’S SUSTAINABLE FLIGHT FUND GROWS TO NEARLY $200 MILLION AND ADDS STRATEGIC PARTNERS

The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund has expanded its investment capability to nearly $200 million and welcomed eight new corporate partners, five months after its initial launch. This fund aims to increase the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by supporting start-ups and encouraging collaboration between companies and consumers.

The new partners include American Express Global Business Travel, Aramco Ventures, Aviation Capital Group, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Groupe ADP, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue Ventures. They will be joining the inaugural fund partners, which are Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell.

Additionally, United customers now have the option to contribute to the UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM when they book flights, and so far, over 60,000 customers have contributed more than $200,000 since the fund’s launch.

SAF is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional jet fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel on a lifecycle basis. United has already invested in the future production of over five billion gallons of SAF, more than any other airline globally.

Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, emphasizes that while United can’t solve the decarbonization challenge alone, it can leverage its leadership and credibility to encourage others to join the cause. The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund provides a unique opportunity for collaboration to scale the SAF industry and gain equity in groundbreaking technologies.

United plans to continue recruiting corporations from various industries to join the fund and will prioritize investments in new technology, advanced fuel sources, and proven producers to expand the SAF supply. Partners will also have the chance to gain preferential access to environmental attributes related to United’s future SAF supply.

SAF currently requires blending with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory standards, and it is produced from materials like used cooking oil and agricultural waste. In the future, it could be made from other sources such as household trash or forest waste. Through the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, United aims to invest in various SAF feedstocks and technologies, with the potential to contribute to a future of sustainable flight if supported by appropriate policy incentives.