Korean Air has partnered with Yusen Logistics, a global logistics company, to further promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the air cargo industry. 

In the announcement, Korean Air said the two companies signed a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Cooperation Program Agreement at the Yusen Logistics headquarters in Tokyo. 

It added that Yusen Logistics is the airline's first cargo SAF partner based in Japan, and the two companies will collaborate to promote SAF usage within the Asian region in alignment with the aviation industry's climate change goals.

"We are delighted to welcome Yusen Logistics as our cargo SAF program partner to jointly promote and implement SAF usage," said Jaedong Eum, senior vice president and head of the cargo business division of Korean Air.

"We remain committed to the industry's climate change goals and the sustainable development of the air cargo industry," he added.

Eisuke Fukagawa, global head of the airfreight forwarding group Yusen Logistics, noted that Yusen Logistics is also committed to the 2050 net-zero target.

"With this partnership with Korean Air, we are able to support our customers to decarbonize their supply chains and help stimulate a larger supply for SAF," he said.

In September 2023, Korean Air launched a program to use SAF for air cargo operations with air cargo customers and forwarders, a first of its kind in Korea in the air cargo industry.

Customers are able to purchase SAF for air cargo operations, and Korean Air will share the carbon emissions reductions with its customers.

Korean Air said it is committed to cooperating with all relevant governments, clients and oil refinery companies to expedite the use of SAF and create an efficient domestic SAF infrastructure in Korea.