Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aether Fuels to explore the procurement of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Aether, a climate technology company, is establishing SAF production facilities in the United States and Southeast Asia, aiming to support the aviation industry’s shift towards greener energy solutions.
Under the agreement, the SIA Group intends to source neat SAF from Aether for five years once the company’s production plants commence commercial operations. The deal includes an option for a five-year extension. The SAF will be blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to selected airports serving Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot.
Aether’s proprietary Aurora™ technology will be utilized to produce SAF from waste carbon feedstock, a process designed to enhance efficiency, lower capital costs, and achieve higher SAF yields compared to existing production methods.
Commitment to Decarbonization
Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore Airlines, emphasized the airline’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, “This partnership marks another step in the SIA Group’s journey towards our long-term decarbonisation goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By collaborating with like-minded ecosystem partners such as Aether, we aim to accelerate and scale up the adoption of SAF in our flight operations, laying the groundwork for more sustainable air travel.”
Aether was incubated in 2022 by Xora, a deep-tech venture firm backed by Temasek. Since then, the company has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia and Chicago, where its research and development hub is based. Aether’s upcoming production facilities will generate CORSIA-certified SAF, ensuring a minimum 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with international aviation sustainability goals.
Driving SAF Innovation
Conor Madigan, CEO of Aether Fuels, highlighted the significance of the partnership with SIA Group, “We are proud to join the SIA Group’s ecosystem of SAF technology innovators. Their decarbonization goals are catalyzing ingenuity throughout the supply chain and galvanizing companies like Aether to develop production solutions that pair breakthrough technologies with next-generation feedstock strategies. The collaboration will deepen our understanding of the end-user customer priorities and of the SAF market, particularly in South East Asia. These advantages will further inform our project development programs and accelerate our path to commercialization.”
“It is encouraging to see the SIA Group committing to meaningful sustainability goals and taking concrete steps to advance the adoption of SAF. Singapore has built a supportive environment for deep tech innovation, empowering companies like Aether to amplify the impact of transformative solutions to global challenges. Its Aurora™ breakthrough technology enables the production of SAF with the lowest green premium and most flexible, scalable feedstock. This collaboration with the SIA Group reflects a shared focus and commitment, making it a natural fit that will undoubtedly accelerate SAF innovation and adoption,” according to Phil Inagaki, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Xora, emphasizing Singapore’s role in fostering deep-tech innovation.
This collaboration reinforces the growing momentum behind SAF adoption as airlines worldwide seek cleaner alternatives to conventional jet fuel.