Southwest Airlines is planning to add three new routes from Las Vegas:
Albany, NY
Grand Rapids, MI
Rochester, NY
Top Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8725L (msn 42575) SEA (Bruce Drum). Image: 106089.
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines made this announcement:
With deep sadness, Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) shares that President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, 79, has passed away, surrounded by loved ones.
Colleen passionately guided generations to do the right thing, and often cited The Golden Rule—insisting that everyone treat each other in a way they would hope to be treated. She widely is credited with giving Southwest Airlines its Heart because of her strong belief in Employees showing love for each other, as well as to our Customers. That foundational tenet defines the Southwest Culture more than half-a-century since the founding of the airline. She lived her life as an example for all to follow.
The entire Southwest Airlines Family extends deepest sympathies to her son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Melodie Barrett; her beloved grandson, Evan Daniel Barrett; and her brother, Pat Crotty and his family.
Colleen dedicated herself to putting Employees first and encouraging them to deliver Positively Outrageous Customer Service, which became the very signature of Southwest Airlines. She was responsible for instilling The Golden Rule among the Employees of Southwest, and she was the architect of the company’s famous corporate Culture. Colleen’s fervent mantra was to treat people the way they want to be treated—with kindness and respect—and the rest will follow, including profitability and shareholder satisfaction. To share this leadership philosophy, Colleen co-authored with Ken Blanchard the book Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Success. She believed that Southwest was truly “a customer service organization, which just happened to fly airplanes.” In 2021, Southwest Airlines honored her legacy by establishing the Colleen C. Barrett Institute of Cultural Excellence & Customer Service.
As time went on, Colleen became an integral part in forming the dynamic Employee Culture of Southwest and its relentless focus on Customer Service. She was honored to serve in several positions of Leadership, including Vice President Administration; Executive Vice President Customers; President and Chief Operating Officer, and finally President of the airline from 2001 to July 2008, making her the highest-ranking woman in the commercial airline industry at that time. She also served on the Southwest Airlines Company Board of Directors from 2001 to 2008 as Corporate Secretary.
“Colleen’s legacy is the Heart of Southwest Airlines and everything that it stands for—the Golden Rule; Hospitality; Serving others; and most of all, LUV!” said President & CEO Bob Jordan. “Colleen’s fingerprints are all over Southwest Airlines, and she cherished her Southwest Family. She taught us how to lead with our Hearts, but she was also one of the toughest people I’ve ever known, leading the charge on many battles and coming out victorious through them all. We will honor her unending contributions to Southwest Airlines by living out our Southwest Way Values in everything we do. She taught us that, and we owe it to her.”
“Colleen has been the heart and soul of Southwest Airlines from our earliest days. She is largely responsible for creating and nurturing the unique and special Culture that has defined Southwest Airlines and been the envy of corporate America for more than 50 years,” said Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly. “Her passion and commitment to ensuring that our Employees provided Legendary Customer Service has made Southwest Airlines famous for our Hospitality. As Colleen is famous for saying, ‘We are in the Customer Service business, we just happen to fly airplanes.’ Her love for our Employees was undying and unending, and we loved her right back. Simply put, she is and always will be our Heroine.”
Two Southwest aircraft honored the former executive:
Top Copyright Photos: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N266WN (msn 32523) (Colleen Barrett-Heroine of the Heart) SNA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 963167.
Below Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N872CB (msn 67780) (Colleen Barrett) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960135.
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery (historic liveries):
Southwest Airlines today introduced Cash + Points1, a new flexible payment option for Rapid Rewards®2 Members. For the first time, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Members can now use a combination of points (starting with as few as 1,000 points) and other eligible forms of payment to purchase Southwest® flights on Southwest.com/cashpluspoints.
“We launched several enhancements to our award-winning program last year that made it easier to earn more points and achieve tier status, said Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines. “This year, we’re continuing our commitment to lean into Customer preferences by giving them extra flexibility to make points go further by offering new ways to use their points.”
Business Travel Counts, Too!
Southwest also is launching new capabilities for Southwest Business Customers. Corporate Travel Managers can now use a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards Business points to purchase flights for their company’s travel using Rapid Rewards Business points3 through swabiz.com.
From Flights to Hotels
But wait, there’s more! Southwest Airlines® is going the extra mile and is now offering its Rapid Rewards Members the ability to use their Rapid Rewards points for hotel stays on hotels.redeemrapidrewards.com powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda. Additionally, Members booking travel with points can choose to pay for hotel bookings using only points, or a combination of cash and points, and can benefit from competitive rates for redeeming points for flights and hotel bookings at more than 400,000 properties worldwide.
“Our Purpose is to connect People to the places that matter most to them by offering a seamless travel experience,” said Phil Gouel, Vice President Travel Products at Southwest Airlines. “These enhancements allow Members additional opportunities to redeem their earned points for hotel stays, with more flexibility and more value.”
Top Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8739L (msn 60231) DAL (Jarrod Wilkening). Image: 963119.
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines Company today reported its first quarter 2024 financial results:
Bob Jordan, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “While it is disappointing to incur a first quarter loss, we exited the quarter with healthy profits and margins in the month of March. We are focused on controlling what we can control and have already taken swift action to address our financial underperformance and adjust for revised aircraft delivery expectations. I want to thank our more than 74,000 Employees for their continued Warrior Spirit to maintain a reliable and resilient operation as we adapt to aircraft delivery constraints and adjust to slower than planned growth for this year and next.
“Our first quarter 2024 revenue performance, while shy of our prior aspirations, resulted in record first quarter operating revenues, record first quarter passengers carried, and a solid sequential improvement in nominal unit revenue when compared with seasonal norms. The sequential improvement was driven by an acceleration in managed business revenues as well as benefits from network adjustments, which started in earnest with the March schedule. While costs remain a headwind, we are realizing benefits from our ongoing cost reduction actions and remain focused on enhancing productivity and controlling discretionary spending. We also have certainty with labor rates, having ratified agreements with 11 of our labor groups in the past 18 months, including the agreement ratified yesterday for our Flight Attendants.
“Achieving our financial goals is an immediate imperative. The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025. We are reacting and replanning quickly to mitigate the operational and financial impacts while maintaining dependable and reliable flight schedules for our Customers.
“To improve our financial performance, we have intensified our network optimization efforts to address underperforming markets. Consequently, we have made the difficult decision to close our operations at Bellingham International Airport, Cozumel International Airport, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport. I want to sincerely thank our Employees, the airports, and the communities for all their incredible support over the years.
“Additionally, we are evaluating options to enhance our Customer Experience as we study product preferences and expectations, including onboard seating and our cabin. And, we are implementing cost control initiatives, including limiting hiring and offering voluntary time off programs. We now expect to end 2024 with approximately 2,000 fewer Employees as compared with the end of 2023.
“We are focused on achieving our financial prosperity goals and creating value for our Shareholders, while we adjust to changes in our aircraft delivery plans, Customer travel patterns and preferences, higher fuel prices, and other cost pressures. We are excited and optimistic with a robust set of strategic initiatives that are well underway. They are comprehensive and aimed at enhancing the Customer Experience; delivering operational excellence; creating new and meaningful revenue opportunities; expanding margins; and achieving return on invested capital well above of our weighted average cost of capital. We look forward to sharing these plans at our Investor Day in September.”
| (a) Operating revenue per available seat mile (“RASM” or “unit revenues”). |
| (b) Available seat miles (“ASMs” or “capacity”). The Company’s flight schedule is published for sale through March 5, 2025. The Company expects third quarter 2024 capacity to increase in the low-single digits and fourth quarter 2024 capacity to decrease in the low- to mid-single digits, resulting in capacity growth in the range of flat to down low-single digits in second half 2024, all on a year-over-year percentage basis. |
| (c) Operating expenses per available seat mile, excluding fuel and oil expense, special items, and profitsharing (“CASM-X”). |
| (d) Aircraft on property, end of period. The Company now plans for approximately 20 Boeing 737-8 (“-8”) aircraft deliveries and 35 aircraft retirements in 2024, comprised of 31 Boeing 737-700s (“-700”) and four Boeing 737-800s (“-800”). This is compared with its previous plan for approximately 46 -8 deliveries and 49 aircraft retirements. The delivery schedule for the Boeing 737-7 (“-7”) is dependent on the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) issuing required certifications and approvals to The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) and the Company. The FAA will ultimately determine the timing of the -7 certification and entry into service, and Boeing may continue to experience manufacturing challenges, so the Company offers no assurances that current estimations and timelines will be met. |
Revenue Results and Outlook:
The Company had record first quarter revenue performance driven by strong demand trends and record first quarter passenger and ancillary revenue, passengers carried, and new Rapid Rewards® Members. The Company’s first quarter 2024 RASM came in at the low end of its expectations primarily due to lower-than-expected close-in leisure passenger volume, including lower-than-expected maturation of development markets. Still, nominal sequential RASM in first quarter 2024 was ahead of normal seasonal trends. First quarter 2024 managed business revenues strengthened sequentially, as expected, finishing roughly flat when compared with first quarter 2019 levels, and up approximately 25 percent, year-over-year. Network optimization adjustments, implemented with the March schedule, were accretive and supported the profitability inflection point and strong margins for the month of March 2024.
Based on current booking trends, the Company continues to expect an all-time quarterly record for operating revenue in second quarter 2024. Second quarter 2024 RASM is expected to decrease in the range of 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent, on capacity growth of 8 percent to 9 percent, both year-over-year. The comparison includes just over one point of year-over-year headwind from the combined impact of Easter and 4th of July timing. Once again, the Company currently expects nominal second quarter 2024 sequential RASM trends to exceed normal seasonal trends. This anticipated sequential improvement includes expected benefits from revenue initiatives—most notably a full quarter of network optimization.
Significant challenges presented by Boeing aircraft delivery delays, and the related reduction in second half 2024 capacity, negatively impact the Company’s previous expectation for double-digit year-over-year operating revenue growth for full year 2024. As such, the Company now expects full year 2024 year-over-year operating revenue growth approaching high-single digits when adjusted for current trends and planned reductions for post-summer schedules. While the Company remains committed to the goal of earning its cost of capital, these new challenges, combined with current trend pressures, make it more realistic to expect that to occur beyond 2024. The Company is working on further optimization of its network with the goal to improve unit revenue performance and operating margins5. To that end, the Company has made the difficult decision to cease operations at Bellingham International Airport, Cozumel International Airport, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport on August 4, 2024, and significantly restructure other markets, most notably by implementing capacity reductions in both Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The Company’s initiatives, which include the estimated benefit of network changes, are expected to contribute between $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion in 2024 year-over-year pre-tax profits, compared with its initial plan of roughly $1.5 billion. The estimated value has been updated for first quarter actual performance, development market adjustments, and capacity changes in the second half of the year. Furthermore, the Company will continue to evaluate its network and work on its robust set of new strategic initiatives, including revenue generating opportunities.
Fuel Costs and Outlook:
The Company’s multi-year fuel hedging program continues to provide protection against spikes in energy prices. The Company’s current fuel derivative contracts contain a combination of instruments based on West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude oil, and refined products, such as heating oil. The economic fuel price per gallon sensitivities3 provided in the table below assume the relationship between Brent crude oil and refined products based on market prices as of April 18, 2024.
| Estimated economic fuel price per gallon, including taxes and fuel hedging premiums | |||||||||||
| Average Brent Crude Oil price per barrel | 2Q 2024 | 2024 | |||||||||
| $70 | $2.45 – $2.55 | $2.50 – $2.60 | |||||||||
| $80 | $2.65 – $2.75 | $2.70 – $2.80 | |||||||||
| Current Market (a) | $2.70 – $2.80 | $2.70 – $2.80 | |||||||||
| $90 | $2.80 – $2.90 | $2.85 – $2.95 | |||||||||
| $100 | $3.00 – $3.10 | $3.05 – $3.15 | |||||||||
| $110 | $3.10 – $3.20 | $3.15 – $3.25 | |||||||||
| Fair market value of fuel derivative contracts settling in period | $27 million | $109 million | |||||||||
| Estimated premium costs | $39 million | $158 million | |||||||||
| (a) Brent crude oil average market prices as of April 18, 2024, were $87 and $84 per barrel for second quarter and full year 2024, respectively. |
In addition, the Company is providing its maximum percentage of estimated fuel consumption6 covered by fuel derivative contracts in the following table:
| Period | Maximum fuel hedged percentage (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 58 % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 47 % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 26 % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) Based on the Company’s current available seat mile plans. The Company is currently 55 percent hedged in second quarter 2024 and 58 percent hedged for second half 2024. |
Non-Fuel Costs and Outlook:
The Company’s first quarter 2024 CASM-X increased 5.0 percent, year-over-year, approximately one point better than prior guidance primarily due to favorable airport settlements and higher-than-expected participation in voluntary time off programs. The majority of the first quarter CASM-X increase, year-over-year, was attributable to higher 2024 overall labor cost increases, as well as pressure from planned maintenance expenses.
The Company continues to expect similar cost pressures throughout the year, driving second quarter 2024 CASM-X to an expected increase in the range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent, year-over-year. The Company expects full year 2024 CASM-X to increase in the range of 7 percent to 8 percent, based on a reduction of roughly 2 points of lower than previously expected capacity, on a year-over-year basis.
First quarter 2024 net interest income, which is included in Other expenses (income), increased $18 million, year-over-year, primarily due to a $16 millionincrease in interest income driven by higher interest rates.
Fleet, Capacity, and Capital Spending:
During first quarter 2024, the Company received five -8 aircraft and retired three -700 aircraft, ending first quarter with 819 aircraft. Given the Company’s discussions with Boeing and expected aircraft delivery delays, the Company plans for approximately 20 -8 aircraft deliveries in 2024, a reduction from the Company’s previous expectation of 46 -8 aircraft deliveries, which differs from its contractual order book displayed in the table below. Consequently, to support fleet flexibility for 2025, the Company plans to retire approximately 35 aircraft in 2024 (31 -700s and four -800s), a reduction from its previous expectation of 49 (45 -700s and four -800s). This will result in a fleet of roughly 802 aircraft at year-end 2024. As a result of Boeing’s delivery delays, the Company has conservatively re-planned its capacity and delivery expectations for the remainder of this year and next. However, there is no assurance that Boeing will meet this most recent delivery schedule.
The Company’s flight schedule is published for sale through March 5, 2025. In light of the Company’s lower aircraft delivery expectations, the Company estimates second quarter 2024 capacity to increase in the range of 8 percent to 9 percent; third quarter 2024 capacity to increase in the low-single digits; fourth quarter 2024 capacity to decrease in the low- to mid-single digits; and full year 2024 capacity to increase approximately 4 percent, all on a year-over-year percentage basis. While the Company continues to adjust and re-optimize schedules for the second half of the year, the current expectation is for aircraft seats and trip frequency to decline in the third and fourth quarters of 2024, both on a year-over-year basis. The Company currently plans for capacity growth beyond 2024 to be at or below macroeconomic growth trends until the Company reaches its long-term financial goal to consistently achieve after-tax return on invested capital (“ROIC”)7 well above its weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”).
The Company’s first quarter 2024 capital expenditures were $583 million, driven primarily by aircraft-related capital spending, as well as technology, facilities, and operational investments. The Company now estimates its 2024 capital spending to be roughly $2.5 billion, which includes approximately $1.0 billion in aircraft capital spending, assuming approximately 20 -8 aircraft deliveries in 2024 and continued progress delivery payments for the Company’s contractual 2025 firm orders.
Last week, the Company entered into a Supplemental Agreement with Boeing relating to its contractual order book for -7 and -8 aircraft. This Supplemental Agreement addresses updates related to the continued -7 delay in certification and supports the Company’s continued focus on fleet modernization. The Supplemental Agreement formalized the conversion of 19 2025 -7 firm orders into -8 firm orders as of March 31, 2024, and shifted one 2025 -8 option into 2026 as of April 2024. The following tables provide further information regarding the Company’s contractual order book and compare its contractual order book as of April 25, 2024, with its previous order book as of January 25, 2024. The contractual order book as of April 25, 2024 does not include the impact of delivery delays and is subject to change based on ongoing discussions with Boeing.
| Current 737 Contractual Order Book as of April 25, 2024: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Boeing Company | ||||||||||||||||||||
| -7 Firm Orders | -8 Firm Orders | -7 or -8 Options | Total | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 27 | 58 | — | 85 | (c) | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 40 | 19 | 14 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 59 | — | 27 | 86 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2027 | 19 | 46 | 25 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2028 | 15 | 50 | 25 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2029 | 38 | 34 | 18 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2030 | 45 | — | 45 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2031 | 45 | — | 45 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 288 | (a) | 207 | (b) | 199 | 694 | |||||||||||||||
| (a) The delivery timing for the -7 is dependent on the FAA issuing required certifications and approvals to Boeing and the Company. The FAA will ultimately determine the timing of the -7 certification and entry into service, and the Company therefore offers no assurances that current estimations and timelines are correct. |
| (b) The Company has flexibility to designate firm orders or options as -7s or -8s, upon written advance notification as stated in the contract. |
| (c) Includes five -8 deliveries received year-to-date through March 31, 2024. Given the Company’s continued discussions with Boeing and expected aircraft delivery delays, the Company is currently planning for approximately 20 -8 aircraft deliveries in 2024. |
| Previous 737 Order Book as of January 25, 2024 (a): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Boeing Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -7 Firm Orders | -8 Firm Orders | -7 or -8 Options | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 27 | 58 | — | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 59 | — | 15 | 74 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 59 | — | 26 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2027 | 19 | 46 | 25 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2028 | 15 | 50 | 25 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2029 | 38 | 34 | 18 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2030 | 45 | — | 45 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2031 | 45 | — | 45 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 307 | 188 | 199 | 694 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) The ‘Previous 737 Order Book’ is for reference and comparative purposes only. It should not be relied upon. See ‘Current 737 Contractual Order Book’ for the Company’s current aircraft order book. |
Liquidity and Capital Deployment:
Awards and Recognitions:
Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”):
Because of the Boeing delivery delays, Southwest will drop service to four destinations on August 4, 2024:
Bellingham, WA
Cozumel, Mexico
Houston (Bush Intercontinental), TX
Syracuse, NY
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines has announced that its Flight Attendants, represented by the Transport Workers Union Local 556, voted in favor of a new collective bargaining agreement. In addition to industry-leading compensation increases, the new agreement incorporates refined on-call scheduling for Southwest Airlines® Flight Attendants and other quality-of-life enhancements, including Company-paid maternity and parental leaves.
The contract covering nearly 20,000 Southwest® Flight Attendants becomes amendable in 2028.
Since October 2022, 11 union-represented workgroups at the airline have ratified new agreements:
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines today unveiled a new brand campaign, “The Big Flex,” showcasing the carrier’s flexible and Customer-friendly points of difference, including two bags fly free®1, no change or cancellation fees2, flight credits that don’t expire3, and points that don’t expire4. The campaign highlights what’s most important to Southwest® Customers—choice and flexibility—delivered with the low fares and legendary Hospitality for which Southwest is famous.
“The Big Flex” is centered around stories of Customers who benefit from Southwest’s flexible policies and showcases unique ways Customers get more value and a better travel experience when flying on Southwest. “The Big Flex” also features a series of partnerships with online creators to highlight some of the destinations that Southwest serves.
Additionally, the campaign includes a series of ads specifically created for local markets, demonstrating Southwest’s Heart, fun, and flexibility in ways that are authentic to the communities and Customers the airline serves.
Southwest partnered with its agencies Spark Foundry and GSD&M to develop “The Big Flex” theme and creative assets for multiple media platforms.
Southwest Airlines yesterday hosted a unique inflight “Solarbration” with passengers today on select flights, which included festive eclipse-themed glasses, napkins, cosmic cocktails, and of course, a once-in-a-lifetime view of the eclipse!
Photos: Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Solarbration flights that were within the path of totality included:
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines has announced the acquisition of SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE) as part of the investment portfolio of its wholly owned subsidiary Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures, LLC (SARV). SARV is dedicated to creating more opportunities for Southwest® to obtain scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
SAFFiRE is part of a project supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and produce scalable renewable ethanol that can be upgraded into SAF. SAFFiRE expects to utilize technology developed at the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to convert corn stover, a widely available agricultural residue feedstock in the U.S., into renewable ethanol.
Southwest first invested in SAFFiRE during phase one of the pilot project in 2022. With this acquisition, SAFFiRE is expected to proceed with phase two of the project by developing a pilot plant hosted at Conestoga’s Arkalon Energy ethanol facility in Liberal, Kansas. Initially, this plant is intended to utilize SAFFiRE’s exclusive technology license from NREL to process 10 tons of corn stover per day for the production of renewable ethanol. Then, the plan is for the ethanol to be converted into SAF by LanzaJet, Inc. (LanzaJet).
The acquisition of SAFFiRE comes shortly after Southwest announced an investment in LanzaJet, a SAF technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology and the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF commercial plant.
Video:
Southwest Airlines aircarft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines has announced a Tentative Agreement with the Transport Workers Union Local 556 (TWU 556) for a new labor contract covering the Company’s nearly 20,000 Southwest Airlines® Flight Attendants.
TWU 556 will provide details directly to Flight Attendants about the agreement and the voting process. Since October 2022, nine Southwest® workgroups have ratified new agreements.
Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Southwest Airlines has announced the launch of Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines® dedicated to creating more opportunities for Southwest to obtain scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a critical component in the success of the carrier’s goal to replace 10% of its total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030. The carrier also announces a $30 millioninvestment in LanzaJet, Inc., a SAF technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology and the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF commercial plant, as part of the SARV investment portfolio.
“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 Bob Jordan, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines. “We look forward to working with companies and organizations developing important technology, like LanzaJet, which could help us meet our SAF goals.”
Southwest will continue to work with SAF producers to enter into SAF offtake agreements, while SARV will focus on managing Southwest’s SAF-related investments, including the carrier’s previously announced equity investment in SAFFiRE Renewables (SAFFiRE). SAFFiRE has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and has a license agreement and certain exclusivity rights to this technology for the production of cellulosic ethanol. This technology is an important component in converting corn stover, a widely available agricultural residue feedstock in the U.S., to cellulosic ethanol that can then be converted to SAF using LanzaJet’s technology.
Additionally, as part of its agreement with Southwest, LanzaJet intends to build an ethanol-to-SAF facility to produce SAF primarily for Southwest. The planned facility includes capabilities to convert SAFFiRE’s cellulosic ethanol into SAF, which can produce greater quantities of SAF from SAFFiRE ethanol over time.
“SARV’s goal is to help scale SAF 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,” said Tom Nealon, President of SARV and CEO of SAFFiRE. “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 SAF.”
“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 Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. “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.”
Securing additional SAF is a key pillar of Southwest’s Nonstop to Net Zero plan, which outlines the carrier’s approach toward sustainability through the strategic pillars of carbon, circularity1, and collaboration to achieve a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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