The DHL Group has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), to scale the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The new five-year agreement will facilitate the uplift of approximately 240 million litres of SAF at London Heathrow Airport, targeting a major reduction in the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of DHL Express cargo transported via British Airways.
Under the terms of the deal, DHL Express will benefit from Scope 3 emissions reductions derived from 40 million litres of neat SAF annually. Combined with a previous 2025 renewal, the partnership is expected to deliver a lifecycle reduction of 640,000 tonnes of CO2e. This volume effectively covers nearly all fuel currently attributed to DHL Express cargo within the IAG Cargo network.
The collaboration is further bolstered by a framework agreement between DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) and IAG Cargo. This cross-divisional strategy could potentially increase the DHL Group’s total lifecycle emissions reductions to over 1 million tonnes, ensuring the group can meet the rising corporate demand for lower-emission logistics.
“This agreement shows what is possible when two committed SAF users in the industry pool their efforts,” said Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations & Aviation at DHL Express. “It significantly expands our ability to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions on a major trade lane and demonstrates how cross-sector partnerships can contribute towards concrete lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions.”
The SAF utilised in this project is ISCC-certified and derived from sustainable sources such as used cooking oil. It offers an approximate 90 per cent reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.
Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo, added: “DHL and IAG Cargo have a longstanding relationship, and it’s great to see our partnership continue to grow as we work together to deliver more sustainable air freight solutions while we keep global trade moving. Partnerships like these will be critical to scaling the use of sustainable aviation fuel.”
