Turkish Airlines has signed a letter of intent with Turkish refinery Tüpraş to explore sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and supply. The agreement, inked by Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi and Tüpraş CEO İbrahim Yelmenoğlu, aims to develop domestic SAF solutions supporting low-carbon aviation.
Tüpraş advances its SAF facility with detailed engineering studies set for completion by end-2025, followed by a final investment decision. The refinery collaborates with Tiryaki Agro and Tüpraş Trading for raw materials from second-generation plant and animal waste. Tüpraş Trading initiates waste trading on January 1, 2025, while Tiryaki Agro commits to supplying at least 450,000 tons annually—exceeding Tüpraş’s estimated 300,000-ton need—for 10 years starting January 1, 2029.
“This agreement strengthens our collaboration in developing domestic SAF solutions and supports our long-term transformation toward low-carbon flights,” the companies stated jointly.
SAF reduces lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 87% versus fossil fuels, per lifecycle analysis under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, factoring in feedstock production, capture, transport, and refining. Turkish Airlines integrates SAF into broader sustainability efforts, including operational optimizations that saved 70,000 tons of fuel and avoided 220,000 tons of CO2 in 2024.
Separately, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi signed an MoU with SOCAR Türkiye CEO Elchin Ibadov to expand aviation fuel cooperation, leveraging STAR Refinery’s capacity for SAF amid regional sustainability goals.
These partnerships address SAF’s key constraints: high costs and feedstock supply limits from biomass, waste oils, and agricultural residues.