Alaska Airlines has stepped into an agreement with US-based renewable chemicals and advanced biofuel company Gevo, bringing the carrier closer to its goal.
On August 3, 2022, the SeaTac-based airline signed a contract with Gevo for the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in which the airline committed to purchasing a total of 185 million gallons of SAF over five years starting in 2026.
The commitment is part of Alaska Airlines’ commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, which includes operational efficiency growth and aircraft fleet renewal plans.
“Of this path, sustainable aviation fuel provides the greatest opportunity to decarbonize in the near and medium term, and Alaska has been working for over a decade to the first test and then use SAF,” the carrier said in a statement.
“Using sustainable aviation fuel is a significant part of Alaska’s five-part path to reach net zero carbon emissions, and alongside others in the oneworld alliance, we are committed to creating a more sustainable future for aviation,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines.
Rakow added: “SAF is the most immediate path we have toward decarbonization of aviation, but we recognize there is significant work required ahead – including public policy action – to make SAF a viable, affordable option at scale.”
In 2016, Alaska Airlines became the world’s first commercial airline to operate a passenger flight using Gevo’s experimental fuel made from the cellulosic fiber of wood waste mixed with regular jet fuel. The carrier aims to achieve 10% SAF use by 2030.