JetBlue signs new SAF agreement with Air Company

Photo: JetBlue

JetBlue announced Sept. 23 plans to bolster its transition to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with a new agreement with Air Company, a carbon-technology company creating carbon-negative alcohols and fuels from CO2.

Air Company has developed and deployed a single-step process for CO2-derived fuel production using renewable electricity to create its novel AIRMADE™ SAF product.

JetBlue’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Air Company comes on the heels of a direct capital investment into its Series A funding round from JetBlue’s venture capital subsidiary, JetBlue Ventures.

With this commitment, JetBlue announces its intent to purchase 25 million gallons of AIRMADE™ SAF over five years, with a targeted start in 2027.

Air Company joins JetBlue’s growing list of SAF partnerships as it advances its goal to convert 10 percent of its total fuel usage to SAF on a blended basis by 2030.

“SAF is one of the most promising avenues for addressing aviation emissions currently available,” said Sara Bogdan, director of sustainability and environmental social governance with JetBlue. “With creative thinking backed by science, Air Company’s work to leverage captured carbon, a resource distinct from other SAF feedstocks, represents the kind of innovation that can expand SAF availability and grow the market necessary to reach our industry goals. We’re excited to build upon this partnership established by JetBlue Ventures as we continue our own path to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.”

Currently available SAF offers approximately 80 percent reduction in emissions per net gallon on a lifecycle basis. Air Company’s carbon-neutral fuel made from captured CO2 not only takes a step forward, offering an additional 14 percent reduction for Air Company or total 94 percent greenhouse-gas (GHG) reduction, but importantly, uses an abundant and freely available resource as a feedstock, negating feedstock constraints. This advancement offers an additional path to achieving commercial viability for SAF at-scale, which will be key to the aviation industry’s net-zero goals.

JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to fly regularly on product provided by both commercial SAF suppliers currently in the domestic market and continues to support the emerging SAF market with significant commitments with other producers as the airline continues to grow its SAF mix.

With regulatory support and investment into SAF, JetBlue believes the industry can grow the economies of scale necessary to create a positive feedback loop, increasing SAF supply and driving competitive pricing needed to encourage the aviation industry’s transition to SAF.

“Our goal at Air Company is to create solutions that work with the environment, rather than against it,” explained Gregory Constantine, CEO and co-founder of Air Company. “Our CO2-derived SAF has the ability to not only burn neutrally, but importantly leverages an infinite resource as our feedstock. We’ve partnered with JetBlue to supply the airline with 25 million gallons of our AIRMADE™ SAF, contributing to the complex tapestry of SAF solutions in our fight against anthropogenic climate change.”

Using the same proprietary technology that mimics photosynthesis to create its consumer ethanol, Air Company has developed and deployed its single-step process for CO2-derived fuel production using renewable electricity. The value of Air Company’s technology and its potential to rapidly scale SAF supply by creating renewable fuels from captured CO2 can also be seen in its list of launch partners, which include respected organizations across multiple industries including military and commercial aviation.