Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the industry recognised term for a type of fuel that uses renewable or recycled waste carbon. We continue to invest in SAF, one of the ways to help reduce aviation’s impact on the planet.

Using SAF results in a reduction in carbon emissions compared to the traditional jet fuel that it replaces over the lifecycle of the fuel. As SAF is similar in chemistry to traditional fossil jet fuel, it can be dropped straight into existing fuel supply infrastructure and aircraft without modification and is therefore the readiest solution to help decarbonise aviation. It has the potential to provide a lifecycle carbon reduction of more than 80% compared to the traditional jet fuel it replaces.

A major challenge is that SAF availability remains low globally, and today accounts for just over 1% of our total fuel. So, we have committed to fuelling our aircraft with 10% SAF by 2030. Alongside our parent company IAG, who has so far committed $865 million to SAF investments and purchases, we see SAF as one of the key solutions in our transition to Net Zero. This includes investing in first-of-a-kind SAF plants in the UK and US to scale up the availability of SAF.

While carbon offsets are delivered by projects that remove or reduce emissions, "carbon removals" strictly refer to projects that remove carbon.

We combine the data that you enter with data from the airline to calculate your emissions. If your flight is within Europe, we adjust the emissions calculation to reflect the emissions already reduced by British Airways’ participation in regulatory systems including the UK and EU Emissions Trading Systems so that we aren’t double counting these emissions.

CHOOOSE uses the British Airways CO₂ emissions calculator to estimate the CO₂ emissions per passenger across BA flights.

The methodology used is:
Passenger Sector Journeys (PSJs) x KM Flown (GCD) x BA Emissions Factor (class/haul) = CO₂ Emissions (tonnes CO₂e)

The BA emissions factors utilise the previous year’s average fuel burn and load factor data from our aircraft to provide customers with a closer estimate of the CO₂ emissions associated with their flight.

The calculation methodology provides an estimate only of the GHG emissions associated with the fuel burn from the flight(s).

Given that the relative scale of non-CO₂ impact is uncertain and subject to ongoing research, we are using a radiative forcing index of 1, which means that the non-CO₂ effects are not included in the calculation of your estimated footprint.

Similar to green electricity tariffs, there isn’t a special SAF infrastructure that sends SAF to particular flights. Instead, the SAF will be procured and ‘dropped-in’ i.e. mixed into the existing fuel infrastructure. This is because the SAF is blended with conventional fuel before it reaches an aircraft. To maximise efficiency, SAF is put into the fuel infrastructure system at strategic locations rather than at multiple locations. Nevertheless, this purchase-based approach to attribution of SAF means that the SAF you buy can be attributed to you. British Airways will ensure that the SAF is sourced and consumed no later than 12 months after a customer has made a SAF purchase.

This service is hosted by climate tech company CHOOOSE™. CHOOOSE delivers a platform that enables both individuals and organisations to understand their carbon footprint, make more carbon-informed decisions, and support trusted climate solutions around the world. For more information, please visit chooose.today.