IOCL intends to supply SAF to Akasa Air

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), India’s flagship national energy major, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Akasa Air, the country’s fastest-growing airline, to explore the future supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 event.

The LoI outlines a framework for collaboration between the two companies aimed at supporting Akasa Air sustainability objectives through the potential supply of SAF. The partnership is expected to focus on enabling low-carbon fuel adoption in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.

Commenting on the development, Shailesh Dhar, Country Head (Aviation Business) at IOCL, said the LoI underscores IOCL’s commitment to scaling low-carbon fuels and assisting customers in their energy transition. Dhar added that by leveraging Indian Oil’s capabilities in fuel production, supply, and logistics, the company aims to play a meaningful role in facilitating the early adoption of SAF.

SAF is widely regarded as a key solution for reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from air travel and is central to the aviation industry’s long-term pathway toward net-zero emissions.

Under the LoI, IOCL and Akasa Air will jointly evaluate potential SAF supply volumes, delivery locations, and timelines. The collaboration will also assess the use of approved sustainable feedstocks and production pathways in line with regulatory and industry standards.

Recently, a study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had outlined that India has potential to emerge as a “leading hub” for SAF production in South Asia by harnessing up to 100 million tonnes of SAF biomass feedstock by 2030.

Global tech major Honeywell has signed deal with industries like NTPC and TruAlt Bioenergy for the production of SAF in India. GPS Renewables has signed a deal with CSIR-NCL to develop technologies to produce SAF from ethanol.