Japan Airlines Takes The Lead In Aviation Sustainability By Expanding SAF Use With New Bioethanol Production Facilities, Paving The Way For Cleaner, Greener Air Travel

Published on December 26, 2025

Japan Airlines is taking bold steps toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 with groundbreaking initiatives in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption. The airline is setting the pace for the aviation industry by expanding SAF usage through new domestic production facilities, bioethanol plants, and strategic global investments. By leveraging sustainable technologies and forging key partnerships, Japan Airlines aims to lead the transition to a greener, more eco-friendly future for air travel. This commitment reflects the airline’s determination to reduce its carbon footprint and align with global efforts to combat climate change, making SAF a cornerstone of its sustainability strategy.

Japan Airlines (JAL) is aggressively pursuing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a cornerstone of its strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The airline’s efforts have reached several key milestones in 2025, marking significant progress toward its goal of transforming air travel into a more sustainable industry.

JAL’s vision is to become the leader in the adoption of SAF, positioning itself at the forefront of an aviation revolution that seeks to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. The airline plans to achieve this by collaborating with both public and private sectors, forging partnerships with stakeholders across Japan and internationally. This commitment includes driving the commercialization of SAF, ensuring it becomes a viable and widely used fuel source for airlines around the world.

Recognizing the global importance of air transportation for an island nation like Japan, JAL acknowledges its unique responsibility to make air travel more sustainable. As one of the world’s largest and most influential carriers, JAL understands that the future of air transportation depends on the widespread use of eco-friendly fuels like SAF. The airline’s efforts reflect not only its corporate responsibility but also its commitment to preserving the environment for future generations.

A major milestone in this journey came in April 2025, when JAL launched operations at Japan’s first SAF production facility in Osaka. This facility is set to play a crucial role in the airline’s sustainability goals by producing SAF domestically. In May, JAL celebrated a landmark event as it flew its first passenger service powered by domestically produced SAF. The flight, which operated from Kansai International Airport to Shanghai, marked a significant step toward reducing the airline’s reliance on traditional jet fuel and moving toward a more sustainable aviation future.

JAL didn’t stop there. The airline expanded its use of SAF produced from cooking oil collected through Japan’s Fry to Fly Project, a local initiative aimed at repurposing waste oils into aviation fuel. By July 2025, JAL began using this SAF on select flights departing from Haneda Airport. The airline set an ambitious target to replace one percent of its total jet fuel consumption with SAF by March 2026. This move underscores JAL’s strong commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and embracing cleaner fuel alternatives.

The airline’s focus on SAF doesn’t stop with operational initiatives. In October 2025, JAL began the construction of a demonstration plant at the Morisora Bio Refinery in Miyagi Prefecture, a project the airline has heavily invested in. This facility will produce bioethanol from local forest resources, which can then be used as SAF. With an expected annual production of over 1,000 kilolitres of bioethanol starting in 2027, the plant will play a critical role in expanding SAF availability, not just for JAL but for the broader aviation industry.

JAL’s investments in SAF technology extend beyond domestic production facilities. The airline also made a strategic investment in the oneworld Breakthrough Energy Ventures Fund, which is dedicated to advancing SAF technologies. This investment will support ongoing research and development aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of SAF, with the long-term goal of driving down production costs and making SAF more accessible to airlines worldwide.

The airline’s SAF initiatives are a part of JAL’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, promote responsible fuel use, and minimize waste. These efforts align with the company’s mission to lead the airline industry in sustainability while meeting the growing demand for air travel. As the aviation sector faces increasing pressure to cut emissions and adopt greener technologies, JAL’s proactive approach sets a model for other carriers to follow.

Looking forward, JAL’s commitment to SAF will be central to its strategy for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The airline recognizes that achieving this ambitious goal will require sustained efforts, collaboration, and innovation across the aviation ecosystem. With the continued expansion of SAF production and the development of new technologies, JAL is positioning itself as a leader in the transition to a more sustainable future for air travel.

Japan Airlines is leading the charge in sustainable aviation by expanding its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This strategic move underscores the airline’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and pioneering a greener future for the aviation industry.

By focusing on SAF, JAL not only addresses the environmental challenges facing the aviation industry but also aligns itself with the growing global demand for sustainable practices in all sectors. The airline’s pioneering efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean aviation fuels are essential steps in ensuring that air travel remains an essential part of the global transportation network while mitigating its environmental impact.