Air Canada and Airbus SAF commit to co-investment platform

Air Canada and Airbus announced a joint SAF co-investment platform.
The companies intend to invest up to approximately CAD 13.7 million.
Airbus signed a long-term, 5-year Leave Less Travel Program Agreement.
Scaling SAF to 40pc of demand by 2040 could add $32 billion to Canadian GDP.
The platform could create 140,000 jobs across agricultural, forestry and urban regions.

Air Canada and Airbus have announced an intent to establish a jointly funded Sustainability Co-Investment Platform to support a commercial-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry in Canada. The agreement states a shared objective to invest up to approximately CAD 13.7 million (US$10 million) through the platform. Both companies have stated confidence that with a supportive public policy framework, this investment can serve as a catalyst for the broader Canadian SAF ecosystem.

Key focus areas include accelerating a jointly agreed Canadian SAF project toward a Final Investment Decision. The companies have continued their advocacy alongside the Canadian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (C-SAF) to work with federal and provincial governments. The initiative introduces a vehicle for corporate partners to stimulate domestic SAF demand through Air Canada’s Leave Less Travel Program, with Airbus signing a long-term, 5-year agreement.

A macroeconomic study by Airbus and ICF has revealed that scaling domestic SAF to meet 40pc of Canada’s aviation fuel demand by 2040 could add $32 billion to the national GDP and create 140,000 jobs. Valerie Durand, Vice President at Air Canada, stated the company is taking meaningful steps toward supporting domestic SAF production. Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer, stated the launch of the co-investment platform will help stimulate the production of and demand for SAF in Canada.

Valerie Durand, Vice President at Air Canada, shared, “Air Canada is proud to help advance aviation’s energy transition in Canada. Through this joint initiative with Airbus, we are taking meaningful steps toward supporting domestic SAF production, helping corporate customers address the emissions associated with business travel, and contributing to a lower-carbon path for the industry.”

Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer, shared, “By launching this co-investment platform and making a long-term commitment to Air Canada’s Leave Less Travel Programme, we will help to stimulate the production of, and demand for, SAF in Canada.”