Airbus, Air Canada launch C$13.7M fund to build Canadian SAF supply
What's the deal? Airbus and Air CanadaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → are partnering on a C$13.7 million ($9.8 million) investment platform to support Canada's sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ramp-up. The two firms will each contribute on a 50:50 basis, Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher said at a July 20 Farnborough Airshow briefing.
Where's the money going? The vehicle will initially back HEFA SAF production, with a focus on pushing a jointly agreed Canadian project toward final investment decision. The partners will also work with the Canadian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition and government to establish a regulatory framework.
What's the endgame? An Airbus-commissioned study by ICF found local SAF production could meet 40% of Canadian demand, add C$32 billion to GDP, and create 140,000 jobs. Air Canada, which operates over 100 Airbus aircraft including A321XLRs added this year, is targeting net zero by 2050 and used 1.6% SAF in 2025.
Why now? Asked whether US policy changes had heightened the need for such initiatives, Air Canada's Valerie Durand said the airline had held steady on its goals. "It's not a matter of one geography versus another," she said.
Separately, Airbus will offset its Canadian corporate travel through a five-year deal with Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Programme, starting with Scope 3 credentials from 60,000 litres of SAF.
The signal: Airbus is replicating a model it already runs elsewhere — it holds a similar 50:50 sustainability venture with QantasDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in Australia. The pattern points to aircraft makers co-investing with airlines to seed regional SAF supply chains that neither can build alone.
Read more: aviationweek.com
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