Los Angeles, United States

By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News
May 26, 2025 – Section: Air

In a move that could reshape the environmental standards of global air freight, FedEx has begun powering part of its flight operations at Los Angeles International Airport with sustainable aviation fuel — a decisive step toward reducing its carbon impact.

This fuel transition, now active at one of the world’s busiest cargo gateways, is not a symbolic gesture. It’s a real shift. FedEx is replacing a significant portion of its conventional jet fuel with a cleaner, renewable alternative. In volume, that means more than three million gallons of SAF over the next twelve months — enough to cover roughly one-fifth of the company’s annual fuel use at LAX.

“When we talk about reducing emissions, we have to act at the core of where those emissions are produced,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, Chief Sustainability Officer at FedEx. “For us, that begins in the air.”

The fuel itself is produced from recycled oils and organic waste — no crude, no fossil blends. On a lifecycle basis, its carbon footprint is up to 80% lower than that of traditional jet fuel. It’s not a future solution. It’s a working answer, already flowing through supply lines.

FedEx’s move is part of a wider climate commitment: to become carbon-neutral across all operations by 2040. That means cleaner fuels, yes — but also aircraft modernization, smarter routing, and emissions-conscious ground logistics. This rollout at LAX is the latest piece of that puzzle, and one that other players are watching closely.

Aviation experts point out that the significance lies not just in the volume, but in the integration. This isn’t a pilot program or a test flight. It’s daily commercial use at scale — a demonstration that sustainable aviation fuel isn’t an experiment anymore. It’s viable.

“It’s not about ambition,” said a logistics analyst familiar with the rollout. “It’s about execution. And FedEx is executing.”

By embedding SAF into one of its most active logistics hubs, FedEx is doing more than reducing emissions — it’s creating a model. A path others can follow. A message that environmental performance in air cargo is no longer optional — it’s operational.

✎ Maria Kalamatas
Senior Correspondent – Aviation & Sustainability
The Logistic News

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