Cargolux, AIT & Microsoft seal record SAF deal for air freight
Cargolux and AIT ink their largest SAF deal with Microsoft, cutting 66,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions by 2027.
Cargolux and AIT Worldwide Logistics have signed their largest-ever Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) agreement, in collaboration with Microsoft. The three-year deal, which runs from 2025 to 2027, is set to reduce an estimated 66,000 tonnes of CO2e, primarily for transporting Microsoft’s server racks as part of its Cloud Logistics operations.
This SAF—sourced from used cooking oil and tallow, entirely excluding palm oil or its derivatives—is supplied by Valero Marketing & Supply Company and Diamond Green Diesel LLC. The fuel will be blended into Cargolux’s operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, ensuring sustainability across one of its key hubs.
The partnership also emphasizes transparency through the use of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Registry, which helps track and verify SAF usage. The fuel meets stringent EU and CORSIA certification standards, reinforcing the credibility of the emission reductions claimed.
Microsoft’s Colin Todd, General Manager of Cloud Manufacturing Operations & Fulfillment, emphasized the strategic importance of such collaborations: “By working together to increase the production and use of SAF, we can help cost-effectively drive down emissions and expand cleaner fuel use across the transport ecosystem.”
Chelsea Lamar (left), Colin Todd (second from left), and Domenico Ceci (second from right) during the official signing of the landmark SAF partnership between Cargolux, AIT Worldwide Logistics, and Microsoft.
AIT’s Chelsea Lamar added that this deal is a benchmark for future logistics sustainability efforts: “This alliance between forward-thinking companies will serve as a model for future cooperation, and we look forward to advocating similar deals with like-minded shippers.”
Cargolux’s Executive VP of Sales & Marketing, Domenico Ceci, noted: “Despite market volatility, we remain committed to sustainability. This milestone reflects the power of long-term partnerships in pushing our industry forward.”
As SAF adoption remains critical to aviation’s decarbonization goals, this partnership sets a strong precedent for the industry and showcases how aligned objectives can create meaningful climate impact.
