The Avelia alternative aviation fuel programme is expanding to a multi-supplier model beyond fuel provided by Shell Aviation, which the companies behind the initiative said will boost participation and scale.

American Express Global Business Travel partnered with Shell and professional services company Accenture in 2022?to launch Avelia, a blockchain-powered "book-and-claim" platform through which travellers could pay for alternative aviation fuel ¨C also known as 'sustainable' aviation fuel or SAF ¨C even if it was not available at their departure airport.?

As of 31 March, more than 57 companies were participating in the programme, and it had executed more than 900 "retirements," the permanent assignment of benefits of an alternative aviation fuel purchase to a specific user. That represents more than 33 million gallons of?alternative aviation fuel at 17 airport locations, which reduced carbon by more than 300,000 tonnes, according to the companies.

To date, all the?alternative aviation fuel managed through Avelia has been supplied by Shell, but the companies are now opening it up to participation from other?alternative aviation fuel suppliers as well. Both corporations and airlines, as well as freight intermediaries, will be able to manage?alternative aviation fuel purchases from other suppliers in the programme.

This will include a "bring your own SAF" model, in which airlines can manage their?alternative aviation fuel portfolio in Avelia, bringing in purchases that otherwise would have been tracked offline, according to the companies. Avelia also is setting up a governance structure to enable that multi-party involvement.

"Avelia¡¯s evolution from a single-supplier platform to a multi-supplier industry solution is a powerful demonstration of how collaboration, technology and innovation can accelerate the scaling of SAF," Shell Aviation president Raman Ojha said in a statement.?

"We are proud to help enable broader participation and transparency in the sector¡¯s efforts to reduce life cycle [greenhouse gas] emissions while supporting our customers in reaching their climate goals."

Alternative aviation fuels can cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions up to 80 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel, but the International Air Transport Association estimates that?alternative aviation fuel production this year will account for only 0.7 per cent of total jet fuel production.?

Accenture now hosts and handles all data in Avelia, which Accenture global travel and aviation sustainability lead Jesko-Philipp Neuenburg said "builds the secure, scalable foundation needed for a flexible industry programme.¡±