NETHERLANDS; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —Neste and United Airlines have extended an existing sustainable aviation fuel supply agreement covering flights departing from Chicago O’Hare International Airport in the United States and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands. Under the arrangement, Neste supplies its SAF blended with conventional jet fuel for use in United’s operations at both airports.
The supply schedule differs by location. Deliveries at Amsterdam began in June 2026 and continued through August 2026, while deliveries to Chicago O’Hare started in July 2026 and are planned to continue until June 2027. The extension therefore provides continued SAF availability at two established international aviation hubs rather than establishing a new fuel infrastructure project.
The agreement is relevant to airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and aviation companies seeking to increase the use of lower lifecycle-emission fuel alternatives. SAF can be incorporated into existing aircraft and fueling infrastructure when blended with conventional jet fuel, allowing airlines to introduce the fuel without requiring a separate aircraft propulsion system.
Neste produces its SAF from renewable raw materials including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. The fuel can currently be blended with conventional jet fuel at levels of up to 50%. Its use is intended to reduce aviation’s lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil-based jet fuel, although the fuels release similar amounts of carbon dioxide during flight.
For United Airlines, the extended supply arrangement maintains SAF availability at Chicago O’Hare and Schiphol, two airports within its international operating network. Chicago is a major United hub, while the airline has been using Neste SAF at Schiphol since 2022. The arrangement also provides an operating example of SAF deployment across airports in North America and Europe.
Neste currently has global SAF production capability of 1.5 million metric tons annually. That capacity is expected to increase to 2.2 million metric tons in 2027 following completion of the expansion of its Rotterdam refinery, potentially increasing the volume available to airlines and other aviation fuel customers.
The development also has implications for the broader SAF market, where airlines depend on available production capacity and airport-level supply arrangements to expand usage. Neste is a renewable fuels producer with operations spanning renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, while United Airlines is a major U.S. carrier operating an extensive domestic and international network.
