United Airlines CEO Wants U.S. To Fund SAF Like Solar
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby urged the U.S. government to subsidize sustainable aviation fuel like solar power, while criticizing EU policies.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- United CEO Scott Kirby wants the U.S. to subsidize SAF just like solar power.
- SAF remains under 1% globally and 0.7% of United's own fuel usage.
- Kirby sees future SAF potential in corn and soy crops grown for biodiesel.
- He criticized the European Union's blend mandates as costly and counterproductive.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby spoke during a fireside chat at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, hosted in conversation with Colorado Matters reporter Ryan Warner, to discuss decarbonization pathways for the aviation industry, emphasizing that electric aircraft will remain a niche market and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the primary solution.
Kirby pointed out that supply chain bottlenecks have long hindered SAF adoption, noting that SAF accounts for less than 1% of the global jet fuel supply and only 0.7% of United's own fuel consumption. He also shared that his awareness of climate change began during his time as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, recalling 1980s forecasts warning of reduced snowpack on the Western Slope and the drying of the Colorado River.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To scale up the nascent SAF industry, Kirby argued that the government must provide financial backing in the exact same manner it subsidized solar energy to lower costs. However, he raised concerns over recent U.S. policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill, which slashed federal tax credits for SAF down from $1.75 to just $1 per gallon.
To secure its own supply, United Airlines has been actively backing startups such as Cemvita and Alder Fuels. Furthermore, Kirby envisions repurposing agricultural assets currently used for corn and soy biodiesel and ethanol production to supply feedstock for SAF as road transportation shifts toward full electrification.
"And I can remember reading in the ‘80s, the forecasts were there's going to be less snow on the Western Slope and the Colorado River's going to go dry"
Scott Kirby
Scaling SAF represents a massive hurdle for the global aviation sector, given that aviation accounts for roughly 2.5% of worldwide CO2 emissions alongside warming impacts from non-CO2 factors like contrails. Airline executives calling for targeted government subsidies highlights the persistent cost premium of SAF over conventional fossil jet fuel, making commercial viability nearly impossible without policy support.
Additionally, Kirby criticized the EU's blending mandate approach as expensive and potentially counterproductive, positioning the U.S. as a prospective exporter of SAF. Meanwhile, environmental campaigners continue to warn that crop-based feedstocks compete directly with food production, trigger deforestation, and offer lower climate benefits compared to alternatives like used cooking oil.
Source: Skift
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