In a significant move towards decarbonizing air travel, easyJet, a leading European low-cost airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ATOBA Energy (ATOBA), an innovative Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) aggregator, and World Fuel Services (World Fuel), a global fuel logistics company. The collaboration aims to develop a long-term supply of SAF for easyJet’s operations across Europe and the UK.

This partnership underscores easyJet’s commitment to its decarbonization strategy and is expected to be a catalyst in unlocking the SAF value chain. By combining ATOBA’s unique approach to SAF aggregation with World Fuel’s established global infrastructure for jet fuel logistics, blending, storage, and distribution, the agreement seeks to create a more stable and economically viable SAF market.

ATOBA’s business model offers a compelling solution to this challenge. By acting as an aggregator, ATOBA manages a diverse portfolio of SAF offtake agreements from various producers utilizing different production technologies, such as Alcohol to Jet, Gas-Fischer Tropsch, and Power to Liquids. This diversification mitigates the technological and pricing risks associated with individual SAF pathways, providing airlines with greater confidence in long-term supply and pricing stability. ATOBA’s approach facilitates the crucial long-term offtake agreements between airlines, jet fuel distributors, SAF producers, and financial institutions, which are essential for scaling up SAF production.

World Fuel’s role in this collaboration is to ensure the seamless integration of SAF into easyJet’s existing fuel supply chain. Leveraging its extensive logistics network, blending capabilities, storage facilities, and expertise in regulatory compliance within the EU and the UK, World Fuel will manage the practical aspects of getting SAF from producers to easyJet’s aircraft.

Raminder Shergill, Director of Tax & Fuel Strategy at easyJet, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are deeply committed to fostering the growth of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry and are thrilled to see ATOBA introduce their innovative approach to catalysing the development of the SAF market. By addressing the long-term offtake challenges that have hindered investment in SAF projects, ATOBA’s approach paves the way for accelerated industry expansion, greater investment confidence, and credible pricing and supply security for easyJet.”

Arnaud Namer, co-founder and CEO of ATOBA Energy, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, saying, “We are proud to partner with easyJet and World Fuel, two Aviation Industry leaders taking bold and proactive steps to accelerate aviation’s transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels. With their expertise in highly efficient operational cost management, they are setting a strong precedent for the industry. We are excited to support their transition through our SAF aggregation services, providing airlines with long-term competitive advantages as they shift toward more sustainable fuels.”