WestJet acquires Shell Aviation’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel available for purchase in Canada

Shell Aviation is actively working across all parts of the value chain to support the aviation industry on the pathway to net zero. Graphic, courtesy Shell Aviation.

WestJet has purchased the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied in Canada by Shell Aviation, marking another milestone in the airline’s mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2025 and signifying another step forward in making Canada’s aviation industry more sustainable.

SAF, acquired from Shell Aviation, is blended with conventional jet fuel to meet all certification and safety requirements. It requires no new investments in aircraft engines, fuel infrastructure, or distribution processes.

To supply WestJet with SAF, Shell Aviation uses a program called Avelia, one of the world’s first blockchain-powered digital SAF book-and-claim solutions for air travel. Avelia uses blockchain to provide clear and transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network.

Environmental attributes can be allocated to airlines and business customers while avoiding issues such as double counting. As a result, corporations can view verified lifecycle emissions reductions from SAF while working to establish sufficient quantities to meet their future net zero or science-based targets.

Westjet’s current focus areas include reducing emissions intensity, developing progressive fleet modernization plans, and advocating for the use of SAF in Canada.