The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with climate technology firm Aether Fuels to potentially source sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Aether plans to establish SAF production plants in the United States and Southeast Asia.
The MoU outlines the SIA Group’s intent to procure SAF for five years once Aether’s plants commence commercial production, with an option for a five-year extension. The SAF will be blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to selected airports served by Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Aether will use waste carbon feedstock and its proprietary Aether Aurora™ technology to produce the fuel. This innovative method reduces capital costs, increases production efficiency, and achieves higher SAF yields compared to current techniques.
Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore Airlines, commented: “This partnership marks another step in the SIA Group’s journey towards our long-term decarbonization goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. By collaborating with like-minded ecosystem partners such as Aether, we aim to accelerate and scale up the adoption of SAF in our flight operations, laying the groundwork for more sustainable air travel.”
Aether was incubated and funded in 2022 by Xora, a deep-tech venture firm backed by Temasek. The company has since expanded its Southeast Asia team and operations in Chicago, home to its research and development hub. Aether’s upcoming commercial-scale production projects in the U.S. and Southeast Asia will produce the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)-certified SAF. These projects are expected to achieve a minimum 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, significantly contributing to the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.
Conor Madigan, CEO of Aether Fuels, stated: “We are proud to join the SIA Group’s ecosystem of SAF technology innovators. Their decarbonization goals are catalyzing ingenuity throughout the supply chain and galvanizing companies like Aether to develop production solutions that pair breakthrough technologies with next-generation feedstock strategies. The collaboration will deepen our understanding of end-user customer priorities and the SAF market, particularly in Southeast Asia. These advantages will further inform our project development programs and accelerate our path to commercialization.”
Phil Inagaki, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Xora and Board Chair of Aether Fuels, added: “It is encouraging to see the SIA Group committing to meaningful sustainability goals and taking concrete steps to advance the adoption of SAF. Singapore has built a supportive environment for deep tech innovation, empowering companies like Aether to amplify the impact of transformative solutions to global challenges. Its Aurora™ breakthrough technology enables the production of SAF with the lowest green premium and most flexible, scalable feedstock. This collaboration with the SIA Group reflects a shared focus and commitment, making it a natural fit that will undoubtedly accelerate SAF innovation and adoption.”
