Aviation Fuel Venture Investment Business

Southwest Airlines announced the launch of Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV), a new subsidiary responsible for managing the airline’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investments, and creating opportunities for the company to obtain SAF to reach its clean fuel goals.

The company also announced a new $30 million investment in SAF technology startup LanzaJet, which will form part of the SARV portfolio. Launched in 2020 by carbon recycling technology company LanzaTech, Illinois-based LanzaJet has developed “Alcohol-to-Jet” technology enabling the creation of SAF and renewable diesel from waste-based and sustainable ethanol sources including feedstocks such as low-carbon sugarcane, energy crops, forest residuals, agricultural wastes, and organic waste.

The launch of the new SAF investment business follows the release in November by Southwest of its updated sustainability strategy, “Nonstop to Net Zero.” Southwest’s climate goals include achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and reducing emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2035. The strategy also includes a target to replace 10% of its total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030.