United Airlines becomes first commercial carrier to use Neste SAF at Houston, Newark, and Dulles airports

Photo: courtesy of United Airlines

(IN BRIEF) Neste and United Airlines have deepened their partnership to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at three major U.S. airports — Houston, Newark, and Washington D.C. This makes United the first commercial airline to operate flights using SAF at all three locations. Neste’s SAF, derived from renewable materials like used cooking oil, can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. Building on their previous collaborations at Chicago O’Hare and San Francisco International Airport, the companies aim to accelerate the transition toward low-carbon air travel while calling for stronger policy support to grow SAF production. Neste’s current SAF output of 1.5 million tons per year is expected to rise to 2.2 million tons by 2027.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 24-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Neste and United Airlines have expanded their collaboration to bring sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to three additional major airports in the United States — George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport. This expansion marks a significant step forward in both companies’ efforts to advance sustainable air travel, making United the first commercial airline to utilize SAF from these hubs.

Under the new agreement, Neste will provide neat Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™, which will then be blended with traditional jet fuel before being used to meet industry specifications. SAF deliveries began at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport in July and will continue through October 2025. Deliveries to Newark and Dulles airports started in September 2025 and will continue until year-end, with all fuel transported via existing pipeline networks from Neste’s SAF terminal in Houston.

Lauren Riley, Chief Sustainability Officer at United Airlines, emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that introducing SAF at these key airports represents a major advancement in the airline’s sustainability strategy. “While United remains the leading SAF user in the United States, we understand that scaling this market requires active government support,” Riley said. “Collaborating with partners like Neste and policymakers is vital to accelerating the adoption of lower-carbon energy solutions.”

Carl Nyberg, Senior Vice President of Commercial, Renewable Products at Neste, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We’re proud to help United Airlines extend SAF use into new markets across the country. For aviation to meet its net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050, policy frameworks at both federal and state levels must drive greater SAF production and deployment. Neste is dedicated to supporting this transition by scaling supply and expanding access to renewable jet fuel.”

This latest agreement builds upon the ongoing partnership between the two companies. Neste began supplying SAF to United at Chicago O’Hare International Airport in August 2024 following Illinois’ introduction of SAF purchase incentives, making United the first airline to use SAF there. Additionally, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel has already been adopted by United at San Francisco International Airport, supported by California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program.

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ is produced entirely from renewable raw materials such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste, offering up to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel. Fully compatible with existing aircraft engines and infrastructure, the fuel can be blended up to 50% with standard jet fuel. Neste currently produces around 1.5 million tons (515 million gallons) of SAF annually, with capacity set to increase to 2.2 million tons (750 million gallons) by 2027, reinforcing its role as one of the world’s leading SAF producers.

Further information: Please contact Neste’s media service, tel. +358 800 94025 / media@neste.com (weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. EET). Please subscribe to Neste’s releases at https://www.neste.com/media/subscribe.

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for mitigating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. The company is the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, enabling its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste refines waste, residues and other renewable raw materials to high-quality renewable fuels at its refineries located on three continents. The company’s annual renewable fuels production capacity will be increased to 6.8 million tons in 2027.

Neste has high standards for sustainability and the company has consistently been recognized by several leading sustainability indices. In 2024, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 20.6 billion. Read more: neste.com

SOURCE: Neste