Opening new ‘windows’: Microsoft's clean fuel quest takes flight, leading airlines left in the wake

Tech giants, including Apple and Google have set their sights on becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. Microsoft has also said it targets to become carbon negative by the end of this decade and as a part of that vision, the Windows maker is eying to cut down emissions during travel.
According to a report by Bloomberg, just like some of the corporate consumers of air travel are investing in cleaner jet fuel, using a new credit system, Microsoft has also moved to purchase sustainable aviation fuel to tackle the heat-trapping emissions from its journeys.
This will allow the company to claim the environmental benefits and move closer to its plans to remove more climate pollution from the atmosphere than it emits.
Microsoft clean fuel deals
Microsoft has struck two deals: the company is working with British Airways owner IAG SA, and Phillips 66 to co-fund the purchase of nearly 5 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel. Secondly, it has also signed a deal with clean-fuels producer World Energy LLC to purchase credits for nearly 4.4 million gallons of SAF – which accounts for about 0.1% of all aviation propellant – over the next decade.
This quantity is equal to the combined SAF usage last year by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air. United Airlines, the leading airline in the US, consumed 2.9 million gallons of SAF in 2022, and has targeted 10 million gallons this year, the report noted.
“Hopefully our early adoption creates a more robust market where we will see higher adoption across the board,” Katie Ross, director of Microsoft’s carbon reduction strategy, was quoted as saying.
Similar deals by Google, DHL Group
The report also noted that Google has joined a program led by American Express Global Business Travel and Shell Plc’s aviation unit. European delivery giant DHL Group also agreed to buy credits for about 180 million gallons of SAF over seven years.
Meanwhile, two dozen companies, including Morgan Stanley and McKinsey & Co. are said to be in talks to finalise transactions totalling a combined 100 million gallons of cleaner jet fuel over five years.