United customers can now contribute funds to the airline for the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or to help finance SAF production and other carbon reduction initiatives.
The program, offered through the United Eco-Skies Alliance webpage that launched Tuesday, is a first in the airline industry, United said. It differs from the now common airline practice of giving flyers an opportunity to invest in carbon offsets.
"When we're talking about things like diversity or climate change, it's not marketing, it's not talk. It's action," United CEO Scott Kirby said.
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United's new contribution vehicle is in keeping with the airline's commitment to eliminate its greenhouse gas footprint by 2050 without relying on carbon offsets. Since 2016, United has been a global airline leader in SAF usage, purchasing from supplier World Energy for operations out of Los Angeles. United currently has an agreement to purchase up to 5 million SAF gallons annually from World Energy.
United also owns a $30 million stake in Fulcrum Bioenergy, which is working toward SAF production. And last year United said it made a multimillion investment in carbon capture technology.
The carrier's new Eco-Skies initiative also assists the public with lobbying their elected leaders to enact policies, such as economic incentives, that will help decarbonize air travel.
Along with its customer focus, the Eco-Skies Alliance has a corporate partnership component. So far, United has revealed 11 partners, but the carrier said more than a dozen global corporations have contributed toward its purchase of more than 3.4 million gallons of SAF this year.
SAF can deliver emissions reductions of up to 80% in comparison with conventional jet fuel. It can be produced from various feedstocks, including animal fats, vegetable oils, forestry residue and garbage.
United said it hopes to add more corporate partners to the Eco-Skies initiative over time.