United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby has called on the US to back sustainable aviation fuel production and deployment with the same scale of policy support that helped solar power grow. The comments place United at the centre of the debate over how to expand SAF supply for commercial aviation, a key constraint on the industry’s decarbonisation plans and a priority for the carrier’s long-running fuel strategy.
Kirby framed the challenge as one of scale rather than technology, arguing that SAF needs stronger public backing to move from limited availability to broader commercial use. The appeal reflects the wider industry problem: airlines can use lower-carbon fuel today, but production capacity, financing and incentives remain far behind demand. United has been one of the most vocal US carriers pushing for faster SAF development, and Kirby’s latest intervention extends that campaign into federal policy. Recent public remarks on greener aviation fuel also show the issue has remained high on his agenda in early September.