Six airline members of the Oneworld alliance have signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement to purchase up to 200 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Colorado-based biofuels company Gevo Inc.
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, and Qatar Airways are expected to use the fuel for five years for their operations at San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles International Airports. Delivery of the fuel is expected to commence in 2027.
This new deal comes just a few months after several Oneworld alliance members including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Qatar Airways agreed to purchase over 350 million gallons of SAF from Aemetis for their operations at San Francisco International Airport.
The SAF supplied by Gevo will be produced using inedible field corn products that will be processed to create ethanol that will then be converted to fuel. Gevo said that it expects to produce the SAF at one or more of its facilities under development in the US Midwest.
In September of 2020, Oneworld announced an alliance-wide commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In October of 2021, Oneworld announced its support for the World Economic Forum Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition’s 10 percent SAF by 2030 goal.
“As the aviation industry continues to face new challenges, today’s announcement underlines the positive outcome of the multilateral collaboration between industry stakeholders. It reaffirms the leadership of our alliance in supporting the ambitious aviation decarbonisation targets, as well as our active role in driving the use of ICAO recognised SAF at a commercial scale,” said Oneworld alliance Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
Oneworld CEO Rob Gurney, meanwhile, said: “Five months ago, we committed as an alliance to a target of 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. Today’s announcement of a second major sustainable aviation fuel offtake among member airlines builds further upon that commitment, while demonstrating the value that can be delivered when our member airlines work together.”
“When Oneworld member airlines show they understand the importance of reducing fossil-carbon greenhouse gas emissions, they start making real change in the industry. Eliminating fossil-based emissions from the life-cycle of jet fuel is our mission. Net-Zero SAF is what we all want. I’m pleased that Oneworld is on board,” said Gevo CEO Dr. Patrick R. Gruber.
Gevo said that it is focused on sustainability at every stage of production, adding that it has developed two alcohol-to-jet pathways that can use different feedstocks that were grown using renewable agricultural and sustainable farming techniques. The company also said that its production processes will incorporate renewable energy, including wind turbines, biogas, and combined heat and power systems, or CHPs, to increase efficiency and reduce carbon intensity to net-zero levels.
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