In 2023, Southwest Airlines announced our Nonstop to Net Zero plan, which outlines our approach toward sustainability through the strategic pillars of carbon, circularity*, and collaboration to achieve our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Part of our strategic plan to achieve that goal includes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) —specifically securing SAF to reach our goal of replacing 10% of total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030. SAF is fuel produced from non-fossil fuel sources that can result in lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis. As a fully certified drop-in fuel when blended with conventional jet fuel in accordance with industry standards, SAF is compatible with existing infrastructure.
We’re taking action towards that goal, and today I’m excited to share another step in our journey with our $30 million investment in LanzaJet, Inc., a SAF technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology and the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF commercial plant.
“Our launch of SARV and our investment in LanzaJet demonstrate that we are not sitting on the sidelines. Rather, we’re in the game by taking proactive, disciplined steps toward securing affordable SAF for Southwest, as we continue to march toward our goal of net zero by 2050,” said Bob Jordan, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines. “We look forward to working with companies and organizations developing important technology, like LanzaJet, which could help us meet our SAF goals.”
As part of its agreement with Southwest, LanzaJet intends to build an ethanol-to-SAF facility to produce SAF primarily for Southwest. The planned facility includes capabilities to convert SAFFiRE’s cellulosic ethanol into SAF. As we’ve previously shared, SAFFiRE is a company in which Southwest invested that is developing technology that uses corn stover, a widely available agricultural residue in the U.S., to produce cellulosic ethanol that can then be converted to SAF through the ethanol-to-SAF process. The planned LanzaJet facility will be designed to produce greater quantities of SAF from SAFFiRE ethanol over time.
“LanzaJet’s ethanol-to-SAF technology represents the next generation of sustainable aviation fuel and will transform global aviation’s ability to meet its 2050 net zero targets. We’re proud to be working with Southwest Airlines to build out this industry as well as working with SAFFiRE Renewables to use ethanol made right here in the U.S.,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. “Southwest’s equity investment in LanzaJet will help us continue to grow and scale to meet the demands of the aviation industry, while unlocking the significant potential of the U.S. biofuels industry to benefit local communities and support the agriculture industry.”
This investment in LanzaJet is made through Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest dedicated to creating more opportunities for Southwest to obtain scalable SAF. For more on our environmental sustainability plan, visit southwest.com/planet.
*Circularity at Southwest means working toward reducing waste through maximizing the value of resources by keeping products and materials in circulation as long as possible. This can be through reusing, recycling, and considering what happens to a product at the end of its lifecycle from the time that sourcing begins.