Jet A-1
Global Aviation Turbine Fuel
The world's standard commercial aviation fuel. Jet A-1 powers every major airline and commercial operator across 190+ countries. SUAT Fuels supplies Jet A-1 with full certification and into-plane delivery at 1,150+ airports worldwide.
Jet A-1 Full Technical Specifications
DEF STAN 91-091 (Ed. 7) · ASTM D1655 · IATA Guidance Material
| Property | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | DEF STAN 91-091 / ASTM D1655 | — |
| Flash Point (min) | 38°C (100°F) | IP 170 / ASTM D56 |
| Freeze Point (max) | −47°C (−53°F) | ASTM D2386 / IP 16 |
| Density at 15°C | 0.775–0.840 kg/L | ASTM D4052 / IP 365 |
| Net Heat of Combustion (min) | 42.8 MJ/kg (18,400 BTU/lb) | ASTM D4809 |
| Total Sulfur (max) | 0.30% mass | ASTM D4294 |
| Mercaptan Sulfur (max) | 0.002% mass (20 ppm) | ASTM D3227 |
| Aromatics (max) | 25% volume | ASTM D1319 |
| Naphthalenes (max) | 3.0% volume | ASTM D1840 |
| Kinematic Viscosity at −20°C (max) | 8.0 cSt | ASTM D445 |
| Distillation 10% Recovery (max) | 205°C | ASTM D86 |
| Distillation Final BP (max) | 300°C | ASTM D86 |
| Thermal Stability JFTOT ΔP (max) | 25 mm Hg at 260°C | ASTM D3241 |
| Copper Corrosion 2h/100°C (max) | Class 1 | ASTM D130 |
| Existent Gum (max) | 7 mg/100 mL | ASTM D381 |
| Smoke Point (min) | 25 mm (or 19 mm + naphthalenes ≤3%) | ASTM D1322 |
| Water Separation Index (min) | 70 (no additive) / 85 (with additive) | ASTM D3948 |
| Electrical Conductivity | 50–600 pS/m (with SDA) | ASTM D2624 |
| Color | Straw to clear | Visual |
Jet A-1 Additives
All additives per DEF STAN 91-091 Annex A approved list
Antioxidants
Prevent oxidation and gum formation during fuel storage. Phenolic-based antioxidants are added at refinery to maintain long-term stability.
Static Dissipator
Eliminates static charge buildup during fueling operations. Required to achieve target conductivity of 50–600 pS/m, preventing ignition risk from static discharge.
Corrosion Inhibitor / Lubricity Improver
Protects metal fuel system components from corrosion. Also improves fuel lubricity (DEF STAN mandated), protecting fuel pump wear surfaces.
Fuel System Icing Inhibitor
Di-ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DiEGME) prevents ice crystal formation. Required by some operators and militaries; optional for standard civil operations.
Thermal Oxidative Stability Improver
Raises the JFTOT thermal breakpoint, allowing use in high-temperature fuel systems and reducing injector coking in demanding engine applications.
Metal Deactivator
Chelates trace dissolved metals (copper, iron) that would otherwise catalyze oxidation. Used when fuel has contacted copper alloys in the supply chain.
Jet A-1 Quality Through the Supply Chain
SUAT Fuels maintains quality control at every handover point
Refinery
Full batch certification against DEF STAN 91-091
Terminal / Pipeline
Independent lab testing at each transfer point
Airport Storage
JIG-compliant tank and hydrant sampling
Fueler / Bowser
Pre-delivery water and particulate checks
Into-Wing
Final density check and CoA issued to operator
Jet A vs Jet A-1 — Key Differences
The principal difference between Jet A and Jet A-1 is the freeze point. Jet A allows a maximum freeze point of −40°C, while Jet A-1 requires ≤−47°C. This 7°C difference is critical for long-haul routes that traverse the polar regions or fly at very high altitudes where fuel temperatures can approach −40°C.
Jet A is primarily used within the United States. Jet A-1 is the international standard used everywhere else in the world. Most airports outside the USA stock only Jet A-1.
Jet A-1 also mandatorily includes a corrosion inhibitor / lubricity improver per DEF STAN 91-091, whereas Jet A under ASTM D1655 may have it as optional.
| Property | Jet A-1 | Jet A |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | DEF STAN 91-091 | ASTM D1655 |
| Freeze Point | ≤−47°C | ≤−40°C |
| Flash Point | ≥38°C | ≥38°C |
| CI/LI Additive | Mandatory | Optional |
| Usage Region | International | USA mainly |
| Polar Routes | Yes | Not recommended |
Jet A-1 Frequently Asked Questions
What are the specifications of Jet A-1?
Jet A-1 is specified by DEF STAN 91-091 and ASTM D1655. Key limits: flash point ≥38°C, freeze point ≤−47°C, density 0.775–0.840 kg/L at 15°C, net heat of combustion ≥42.8 MJ/kg, total sulfur ≤0.30%, aromatics ≤25%, and JFTOT thermal stability ΔP ≤25 mm Hg at 260°C.
What is the difference between Jet A and Jet A-1?
The key difference is freeze point: Jet A-1 requires ≤−47°C vs. Jet A's ≤−40°C. Jet A-1 also mandates a corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver additive. Jet A is primarily used in the USA; Jet A-1 is the international standard used at all other airports globally.
Who are the top Jet A-1 fuel suppliers?
Major Jet A-1 suppliers include global majors (Shell, BP, TotalEnergies) and specialist aviation fuel companies like SUAT Fuels, which provides Jet A-1 supply, quality certification, and into-plane delivery across 1,150+ airports in Europe, the Americas, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
What additives does Jet A-1 contain?
Standard Jet A-1 additives: antioxidants (8–24 mg/L, prevent gum), static dissipator additive (SDA, prevent static), corrosion inhibitor / lubricity improver (CI/LI, mandatory per DEF STAN 91-091), and optionally fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII/DiEGME) for cold-weather or military operations.
What is the flash point of Jet A-1?
Jet A-1 has a minimum flash point of 38°C (100°F) per DEF STAN 91-091. Most refinery batches measure 40–65°C in practice. The flash point ensures that the fuel is not ignitable at ambient temperatures during normal handling, making it safe for airport operations.
How does Jet A-1 quality control work?
Quality is maintained through multiple checks: refinery batch certification → pipeline/terminal lab testing → airport storage sampling (JIG protocols) → fueler pre-delivery checks → into-wing density verification. SUAT Fuels provides a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) at each delivery and maintains full traceability from refinery to wingtip.
Global Supply & Sourcing Network
Certified sourcing, refinery-aligned allocations, and multi-region logistics
Our global supply and sourcing network supports long-term procurement programs with reliable distributor routes, refinery-backed planning, and compliant documentation. We coordinate supply from qualified producers and storage terminals to reduce lead time volatility and improve fulfillment for airlines, defense operators, and government contracts.
- Supply continuity: Contracted volumes with rolling delivery windows.
- Sourcing flexibility: Multi-region options to reduce disruption risk.
- Distributor coverage: Strategic partnerships for priority uplift and transfer.
- Compliance support: Spec, quality, and chain-of-custody documentation.
How to Procure This Fuel
Frequently Asked Procurement Questions
Global Jet A-1 Supply — 1,150+ Airports
SUAT Fuels delivers Jet A-1 with full DEF STAN 91-091 certification, CoA documentation, and 24/7 operational support at over 1,150 airports worldwide.