YVR launches passenger tool to support Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Vancouver International Airport has launched an online emissions calculator that lets passengers estimate their flight’s carbon footprint and contribute to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, supporting aviation’s transition to lower-carbon travel.

Summary:

Vancouver International Airport has launched an online flight emissions calculator that allows passengers to estimate their GHG emissions and contribute to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Traveller contributions will support the environmental attributes associated with SAF and help enable greater SAF use by airlines, starting with Air Canada.
The initiative forms part of YVR’s wider efforts to raise awareness of SAF, engage passengers in aviation decarbonisation and support the industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

As part of its commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has launched a new tool for passengers to be part of the transition to a lower-carbon aviation industry. YVR’s online calculator allows travellers to estimate their flight’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Contributions made through YVR’s new online calculator will be applied to environmental attributes associated with SAF and will enable airlines’ further use of SAF, starting with Air Canada. SAF’s environmental attributes are the quantified climate benefits or reductions associated with its use, such as the GHG emissions avoided by not extracting non-renewable resources used for fossil jet fuel. Contributing to these attributes supports SAF growth and is essential for scaling SAF globally, as it bolsters activity across the supply chain.

“Sustainable Aviation Fuel is one of the most effective options available today to make meaningful progress towards decarbonising aviation,” said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver International Airport. “This new tool gives travellers the opportunity to help increase the use of SAF and support more sustainable air travel.”

SAF is a lower-carbon alternative to fossil jet fuel. It is made from renewable and waste-derived materials and, depending on the feedstock, production pathway and lifecycle-assessment methodology, can have lower lifecycle GHG emissions than fossil jet fuel. Certain SAF may achieve lifecycle GHG reductions of up to 80% when used in neat form compared with fossil jet fuel. As a ‘drop-in’ fuel, it can be blended with fossil jet fuel and requires no changes to today’s aircraft or existing airport infrastructure.

While SAF is currently in use by some airlines, including those operating at YVR, as an emerging fuel source, limited production and higher prices are obstacles for wider uptake. As production increases and more supply becomes available, costs are likely to lower, increasing the proportion of SAF to be likely used in flights around the world.

This initiative is part of YVR’s broader efforts to raise awareness of SAF and support airline partners in increasing their SAF use to advance the aviation industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. While voluntary contributions through YVR’s online calculator help support the broader adoption of SAF by Air Canada over time, the tool is available to all passengers regardless of which airline they travel on.

Hear more from Vancouver International Airport at the 20^th anniversary edition of FTE Global, taking place in Dallas, Texas, on 8 to 10 September 2026. Allen Yuarata, Director, Terminal | Baggage & Groundside Services, Vancouver Airport Authority, is participating in a session focused on ‘Scaling the baggage handling revolution’.

See the FTE Global schedule at a glance >> Register for FTE Global >>