Korean Air, South Korea’s largest airline, has begun using domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on select Japan-bound flights as part of its carbon reduction strategy.
From19th september, a 1 per cent SAF blend has been introduced on services from Incheon to Kobe and from Gimpo to Osaka, the carrier confirmed on Monday. The initiative will run until 31 December, covering around 90 flights on the Incheon–Kobe route and 26 on the Gimpo–Osaka route.
The move follows a year-long trial that began in August 2024, when Korean Air deployed locally produced SAF on its Incheon–Haneda service to assess safety and performance.
SAF, which can cut life-cycle carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel, is widely seen as critical to the aviation industry’s decarbonisation pathway. The fuel for Korean Air’s programme is being supplied by domestic refiners HD Hyundai Oilbank and GS Caltex.
The initiative comes as the South Korean government prepares to mandate a minimum 1 per cent SAF blend in outbound flights from 2027. The requirement will gradually increase to 3–5 per cent by 2030 and 7–10 per cent by 2035, in line with the country’s long-term emissions reduction goals.
