September 17, 2026 [Tank News International]- Neste and United Airlines have extended their existing agreement for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blended with conventional jet fuel for flights departing Chicago O’Hare International Airport in the US and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands.

Under the extended agreement, Neste began delivering SAF to United at Amsterdam Schiphol in June 2026, with deliveries continuing through August. Supplies to Chicago O’Hare began in July 2026 and are scheduled to continue until June 2027. The fuel supplied is Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, blended with conventional jet fuel.

United Airlines Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Riley said the airline’s work with Neste reflects its efforts to expand the use of SAF in regular operations.

United has increased its use of SAF in recent years. In 2025, the airline used more than 83,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to approximately 27.7 million gallons, representing a 104 percent increase from the previous year. The airline also expanded SAF use to additional hubs in Newark, Washington, D.C., and Houston, bringing the total number of its domestic hubs using SAF to six of seven.

At Chicago O’Hare, United became the first airline to purchase and use blended SAF in August 2024. The airport is United’s largest hub by daily departures and serves as a major international gateway for the airline.

In Amsterdam, United has used Neste MY SAF at Schiphol since 2022. The airline has stated that it intends to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, using SAF alongside other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations.

Carl Nyberg, senior vice president, Commercial, Renewable Products at Neste, said the extended agreement demonstrates the companies’ continued focus on making SAF available at major aviation hubs in Europe and the US.

Sustainable aviation fuel

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from renewable raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. The fuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel at concentrations of up to 50 percent and used with existing aircraft engines and fuelling infrastructure.

Neste currently has global SAF production capacity of approximately 1.5 million metric tonnes, or around 515 million gallons, per year. This is expected to increase to approximately 2.2 million metric tonnes, or around 750 million gallons, in 2027 following the completion of an expansion at the company’s Rotterdam refinery.

According to Neste, unblended Neste MY SAF meets applicable sustainability criteria, including lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements under frameworks such as ReFuelEU, CORSIA and the US Renewable Fuel Standard. While SAF and fossil-based jet fuel produce similar amounts of CO₂ during flight, SAF can have a lower lifecycle climate impact because emissions associated with its production and use differ from those of fossil-based fuels.