Southwest Airlines announces sustainable fuel subsidiary, $30 million investment in LanzaJet

DALLAS — Dallas-based Southwest Airlines launched the subsidiary Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV) this week. Southwest Ventures is dedicated to obtaining sustainable aviation fuel.

It’s in keeping with the carrier’s goal of replacing 10% of its total jet fuel consumption with sustainable fuel by 2030.

The company will also invest $30 million in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer LanzaJet Inc., 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 Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan. “We look forward to working with companies and organizations developing important technology, like LanzaJet, which could help us meet our SAF goals.”

The subsidiary SARV will focus on managing Southwest’s SAF-related investments, including SAFFiRE Renewables (SAFFiRE), which works with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on cellulosic ethanol production.

“SARV’s goal is to help scale sustainable aviation fuel through strategic investments, better positioning Southwest to have access to high quality, affordable SAF in accordance with the robust standards of Southwest’s SAF policy,” President of SARV and CEO of SAFFiRE Tom Nealon said. “Through SARV’s investment in LanzaJet, we’re also entering the next phase in the commercialization of SAFFiRE technology, which is designed to support the production of cellulosic ethanol that can be converted to sustainable aviation fuel.”

Additionally, LanzaJet intends to build an ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel facility for Southwest. The plant will help convert SAFFiRE’s cellulosic ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel.

More sustainable aviation fuel is important to Southwest’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“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 LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis. “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.”