Qantas, Sydney Airport, and Ampol have just pulled off something huge: the largest-ever import of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into Australia. We’re talking 1.7 million litres of unblended SAF, shipped in from Malaysia and blended at Ampol’s Kurnell facility on May 7.

Once mixed to an 18% ratio with conventional jet fuel, this batch is enough to power around 900 Qantas and Jetstar flights between Sydney and Auckland.
This is a huge step forward, not just for Qantas but for the entire aviation industry in Australia.

It’s one thing to talk about decarbonising air travel (which every airline does); it’s another to actually start doing it. And this deal shows that the infrastructure and partnerships are finally aligning to make SAF a reality here.

Let’s be real: 1.7 million litres sounds like a lot, but it’s still less than 1% of Qantas’ annual fuel use, which clocks in at around 5 billion litres . But I see this as a proof of concept. It shows that SAF can be imported, blended, and used with existing infrastructure. No need to reinvent the wheel, or the pipeline.

Plus, the environmental impact is significant. This single shipment is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3,400 tonnes, that’s roughly the equivalent of taking 800 cars off the road for an entire year. In the broader context of aviation’s climate footprint, this may be a small step, but it’s a meaningful one.

Especially when you consider how slowly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption has scaled globally, every drop matters.

According to officials, major contracts for an Automated People Mover (APM) and a high-tech baggage handling system are in the tender phase now and likely to be awarded later in the year.

What excites me is the potential for Australia to produce its own Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Right now, they're exporting canola to Europe, where it gets turned into biofuels. Why not keep the value chain there?

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton and Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson are both advocating for government support to establish a domestic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry, which could contribute approximately A$13 billion to the GDP annually by 2040 and create thousands of jobs.

This is a no-brainer. They have the feedstock, the infrastructure, and the demand. What they need now is the political will to make it happen.

This deal is a significant milestone in Australia’s journey toward sustainable aviation. It’s a tangible step that demonstrates what’s possible when airlines, airports, and fuel suppliers truly collaborate.

I’m hopeful that this is just the beginning of a larger movement to decarbonise air travel in Australia and beyond.

If you’re flying out of Sydney in the coming weeks, there’s a chance your flight might be powered, in part, by this new SAF blend. It’s a small change mechanically, but one that has a significant environmental impact.