Neste, ITOCHU, and GS Caltex have joined forces to introduce the first batch of CORSIA-eligible ISCC-certified sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for purchase at Japan’s Narita International Airport. This marks the first time CORSIA-certified SAF has been made available for regular airline use at a commercial scale, well ahead of CORSIA’s mandatory phase starting in 2027.

As part of the collaboration, Neste supplied over 1,000 tons of neat (unblended) CORSIA-eligible and ISCC-certified Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ to GS Caltex's refinery in Yeosu, South Korea, where it was blended with conventional jet fuel. This event also marked the first instance of SAF blending locally in South Korea. The blended SAF was then shipped to Japan, where ITOCHU supplied it to fuel storage facilities at Narita Airport. The first batch is being offered to All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL).

“Sustainable aviation fuel is an immediate solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel. CORSIA-eligible SAF offers airlines like ANA and JAL a credible way to lower their aviation emissions. This achievement demonstrates our collaboration with partners like ITOCHU, GS Caltex, and local governments to strengthen SAF supply chains and make the fuel more accessible across the Asia-Pacific region and globally. We look forward to deepening our partnership to further boost SAF availability for airlines,” said Alexander Kueper, Vice President, Renewable Aviation Business at Neste.

“Together with our trusted partners Neste and GS Caltex, we have successfully created an innovative supply chain for delivering CORSIA-eligible fuel to airports in Japan. We believe this initiative will play a significant role in addressing the aviation fuel shortage in the country and represents a crucial step towards decarbonizing the aviation industry. Moving forward, we are committed to collaborating with Neste and GS Caltex to ensure a steady supply of aviation fuel while progressing towards our common decarbonization goals,” said Tetsuya Yamada, Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Energy Division at ITOCHU Corporation.

“This collaboration exemplifies how we can work together to achieve the aviation industry's net-zero carbon emissions goal. Neste, ITOCHU, and GS Caltex have established a new value chain built on our unique expertise, with strong support from the Korean and Japanese governments. This initiative reflects our collective commitment to assist the aviation sector in its decarbonization efforts. As a result, customers will have access to a reliable supply of CORSIA-eligible SAF well before CORSIA’s mandatory phase begins in 2027, enabling airlines to take further steps in reducing their carbon emissions. Looking ahead, GS Caltex plans to enhance its collaboration with Neste and ITOCHU to further support the decarbonization of the aviation industry in Korea, Japan, and beyond,” said S.H. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Supply & Trading Business Unit at GS Caltex.

CORSIA is an established framework designed to provide a standardized approach for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation to mitigate its impact on climate change. Developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), CORSIA is currently in its initial voluntary phase. Once SAF is certified by an ICAO-approved sustainability certification scheme, it is classified as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel (CEF) and can help airlines meet their CO2 emission reduction targets under the CORSIA framework. In 2022, Neste delivered the first-ever batch of CORSIA-certified SAF as part of a pilot program to certify SAF as a CORSIA Eligible Fuel. Using unblended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ can achieve up to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) throughout the fuel’s life cycle compared to conventional jet fuel.