Its chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin said the airline stands as an ideal partner for SAF innovators and producers in Malaysia, considering the fuel’s crucial role in the aviation industry’s decarbonisation efforts.

“We have a mature understanding of SAF, a clear roadmap to meet our targets, and the volumes of SAF we need align with current production capabilities.

“We already have great relationships with several SAF producers. However, due to the scale of the challenge, there is a broader opportunity for new SAF supply partnerships,” she said in a statement.

The carrier has launched a global open invitation to innovators and startups in the SAF sector, including those in Malaysia, to become its supply partner.

“This marks a pivotal step forward in Air New Zealand’s commitment to decarbonising its operations and aligns with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, which targets a 47% SAF blending mandate by 2050,” it said.

It is the first time an airline has made a global call to potential suppliers in the burgeoning SAF industry to work together on supply opportunities.

“The airline’s ‘opportunity statement’, released today, provides an overview of Air New Zealand’s SAF requirements based on its network, fleet, sustainability targets, and criteria,” it said.

The carrier anticipated that it would need SAF to make up around 20% of its total fuel uplift by 2030 to meet its science-based target.