Kuehne+Nagel expands SAF access for air cargo through Book & Claim model

Kuehne+Nagel is expanding access to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for air cargo customers through a certificate-based Book & Claim model, allowing shippers to support SAF use without being restricted by specific flight routes, airlines or physical fuel uplift locations.

Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, said the limited availability of SAF globally makes it important for companies to create demand and provide producers with greater certainty to scale production.

How Kuehne+Nagel’s SAF Book & Claim model works

Under the Book & Claim framework, Kuehne+Nagel sources SAF volumes and allocates the associated emissions-reduction attributes to customer shipments. Customers can therefore participate in SAF programmes even when the physical fuel is not supplied directly to the aircraft carrying their cargo.

The certificate-based approach is designed to improve access to SAF while providing traceability and documentation for sustainability reporting and emissions disclosure.

Kuehne+Nagel signs SAF agreements with airlines

Kuehne+Nagel is working with airlines, customers and fuel suppliers to increase SAF adoption across the air cargo sector. The logistics company has signed individual memoranda of understanding with several international carriers, including American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France Cargo-KLM Cargo, Atlas Air, Azul, Cargolux, Cathay Cargo, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

The partnerships cover areas including SAF uptake, emissions data and sustainability initiatives across the air freight value chain.

SAF option integrated into digital quoting

Kuehne+Nagel has also incorporated a SAF selection option into its digital air logistics quoting tools. The feature allows customers to consider SAF-related solutions while planning shipments and incorporating emissions considerations into their transport decisions.

29 million litres of SAF sourced in 2024

Kuehne+Nagel reported sourcing approximately 29 million litres of SAF in 2024. Based on lifecycle assessments, the company said the SAF volumes contributed to avoiding more than 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared with conventional aviation fuel.

The company sources SAF through partnerships involving fuel producers and airline stakeholders as it seeks to increase the volumes available for air cargo operations.

SAF forms part of wider decarbonisation strategy

SAF is one component of Kuehne+Nagel’s broader emissions-reduction strategy covering its transport and logistics operations. The company has a science-based target to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 33% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline.

Its other targets include achieving 100% renewable energy consumption at its sites by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Other measures include lower-emission transport solutions, fleet electrification, renewable energy use, waste management and improvements in warehouse and office energy efficiency.

SAF programme available to Indian shippers

Kuehne+Nagel’s SAF solutions are available to customers operating to and from India. Indian shippers can participate through the Book & Claim framework and receive documentation supporting emissions reporting.

Customers can also use digital dashboards to monitor carbon performance across their supply chains, enabling SAF-related emissions reductions to be incorporated into broader sustainability reporting.