A Record Corporate SAF Agreement
American Airlines and Google announced a major sustainable aviation fuel certificate agreement on June 9, 2026, creating a new source of long-term demand for physical SAF.
The three-year partnership is expected to unlock 35 million gallons, or approximately 132 million litres, of sustainable aviation fuel.
American and Google describe it as the largest publicly announced SAF certificate agreement to date between an airline and a single corporate customer.
The companies estimate that the associated fuel will deliver nearly 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions reductions compared with conventional jet fuel on the basis used for the programme.
Physical SAF Will Be Delivered at Chicago O’Hare
Although Google is purchasing the environmental attributes associated with the fuel, physical SAF will still enter the aviation fuel system.
American Airlines will purchase and take delivery of the fuel at Chicago O’Hare International Airport using existing airport infrastructure.
The SAF portion will be produced from waste-derived feedstocks such as used cooking oil.
Google will receive the associated environmental benefits through sustainable aviation fuel certificates, allowing the company to address emissions associated with employee business travel even when the physical SAF is used on different flights.
This book-and-claim structure separates the physical movement of the fuel from ownership of its verified environmental attributes.
Corporate Demand Helps Create Longer-Term Fuel Supply
The agreement has an impact beyond the 35 million gallons covered by the certificates.
American Airlines says the multi-year commitment from Google enabled it to secure a new long-term SAF offtake agreement with Valero Marketing and Supply Company.
That connection illustrates one of the emerging commercial models for scaling SAF.
Airlines need long-term fuel supply, producers need predictable demand before committing capital, and corporate customers increasingly want credible ways to reduce the aviation-related emissions associated with business travel.
SAF certificate systems can connect those three groups even when sustainable fuel is not physically available at every airport used by the corporate buyer.
The model does not solve the broader shortage of SAF production. IATA expects global SAF output to represent only around 0.8 percent of aviation fuel consumption in 2026.
But long-term agreements such as the American–Google partnership can provide producers and fuel suppliers with more predictable demand, helping move SAF from short-term voluntary purchases toward larger commercial contracts.
Sources
American Airlines — American Airlines and Google Sign Record-Breaking Sustainable Aviation Fuel Agreement, June 9, 2026
Google — Google and American Airlines Partner on Sustainable Aviation Fuel, June 9, 2026
International Air Transport Association — SAF Production Volumes Still Disappointing, June 6, 2026