Southwest Airlines invests $30m in LanzaJet to propel sustainable aviation fuel development

In a significant development towards achieving sustainable aviation, Southwest Airlines Co. has announced a $30 million investment in LanzaJet, Inc., a front-runner in sustainable fuels technology and production. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in the quest for environmental sustainability within the aviation sector, showcasing a dedicated effort to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly travel solutions.

LanzaJet, renowned for its innovation in sustainable fuel technologies, is set to lead project development efforts in the United States for a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility. Southwest Airlines, serving as the anchor SAF offtaker, underscores the airline’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The partnership also aims to enhance the operations of SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC, focusing on converting corn stover into ethanol—a critical move towards the commercialization of sustainable fuel resources.

The biorefinery project is expected to leverage LanzaJet’s cutting-edge technology, capable of scaling up production to meet the aviation industry’s decarbonization targets through the use of sustainable feedstocks. The initiative is poised to support the U.S. biofuels and ethanol industries, harnessing the potential of ethanol-to-SAF technology to pioneer the next generation of sustainable aviation fuel production.

Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, highlighted the strategic alignment with Southwest Airlines as a monumental partnership aimed at integrating the SAF value chain and bolstering the U.S. ethanol, aviation, and biofuel sectors. The collaboration seeks to advance SAF production in the United States, tapping into the nation’s ethanol industry’s capacity for innovation and growth in sustainable fuel technologies.

Bob Jordan, President and CEO of Southwest Airlines, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with LanzaJet, emphasizing the critical role of scalable SAF in achieving the airline’s environmental sustainability objectives. With a goal to replace 10% of its jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030, Southwest Airlines views this investment as a key step in its sustainability journey towards net-zero emissions.

The collaboration comes in the wake of the inauguration of LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels in Soperton, Georgia—the world’s first commercial-scale ethanol-to-SAF plant. This groundbreaking facility is set to produce SAF and renewable diesel from low-carbon, sustainable ethanol, serving as a model for future SAF production endeavors. With LanzaJet’s ambition to achieve 1 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030, the partnership with Southwest Airlines represents a significant milestone in the global effort to decarbonize aviation.

The $30 million investment by Southwest Airlines Co. in LanzaJet, Inc. underscores a shared vision for a sustainable future in aviation. By fostering the development of a new SAF production facility and supporting innovative ethanol technology, this partnership aims to accelerate the transition to eco-friendly aviation fuels. As the industry moves closer to its decarbonization goals, the collaboration between Southwest and LanzaJet signifies a pivotal advancement in sustainable aviation fuel technology and production.

The strategic investment by Southwest Airlines in LanzaJet’s SAF production technology not only highlights the aviation industry’s commitment to sustainability but also signals a significant shift towards eco-friendly fuel solutions. This partnership could catalyze a broader adoption of SAF across the industry, potentially setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in aviation. As airlines and technology companies collaborate to develop and scale up sustainable fuel solutions, the potential for significant reductions in aviation’s carbon footprint becomes increasingly tangible.