Demonstration signals airline's commitment to
advancing sustainability framework and ambitious net-zero emissions
goals
CALGARY,
AB, April 19, 2024 /CNW/ - WestJet today
announced that it has purchased the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(SAF) supplied in Canada by Shell
Aviation, marking another milestone in WestJet's mission to achieve
net-zero emissions by 2050, and signifying another step
forward in making Canada's
aviation industry more sustainable.
"WestJet is committed to enhancing our position as a first mover
in sustainability technologies. Just as we pioneered advancements
in Winglets and drag reduction, WestJet proudly stands as the first
airline to acquire SAF by Shell in Canada," said Angela
Avery, WestJet Group Executive Vice President and Chief
People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer. "Thanks to Shell's
world-class fuel supply chain and WestJet's proven track record in
sustainability, this first step sets the stage for future
collaboration and innovation to encourage investments in this
important lever for decarbonization."
With the right regulatory and investment environment, SAF
remains one of the more viable and scalable in-sector options for
reducing emissions in the 2050 timeframe and has the potential to
reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent when used neat,
compared with conventional aviation fuel1. WestJet
remains committed to working with government and industry partners
toward the establishment of a sustainable, long-term commercial
framework for SAF. SAF acquired from Shell Aviation is blended
with conventional jet fuel to meet all certification and safety
requirements, while requiring no new investments in aircraft
engines, fuel infrastructure or distribution processes.
"We are delighted to supply WestJet with SAF, as we
continue to support our customers on their decarbonization
journeys, while simultaneously building out the supply chain in
Canada to enable more customers to
access SAF," said Christine Bassitt,
General Manager, Shell Aviation, Americas.
To supply WestJet with SAF, Shell Aviation uses a program called
Avelia, one of the world's first blockchain-powered digital SAF
book-and-claim solutions for air travel. Avelia uses blockchain to
provide clear and transparent tracking of the environmental
attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network.
Environmental attributes can be allocated to both airlines and
business customers, while avoiding issues such as double counting.
This means corporations can confidently view verified lifecycle
emissions reductions from SAF today, while working to establish
sufficient SAF to meet their future net zero or science-based
targets.
WestJet remains committed to sustainable aviation while
continuing to provide affordable air travel for Canadians. Current
focus areas include reducing emissions intensity, progressive
fleet modernization plans and advocacy for sustainable
aviation fuel production in Canada.
About WestJet
In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in
half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet
launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five
destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft,
14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26
countries.
For more information about everything WestJet, please visit
westjet.com.
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Read the WestJet Newsroom at westjet.com/en-ca/news
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1 https://www.iata.org/contentassets/d13875e9ed784f75bac90f000760e998/saf-technical-certifications.pdf
SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership