Members of airline group plan to purchase up to 200 mgy of SAF from Gevo

Airline network oneworld® Alliance and Gevo Inc. announced March 21 that certain oneworld members plan to purchase up to 200 million gallons per year (mgy) of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Gevo. The delivery of the SAF is expected to begin in 2027 for a five-year term.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways expect to utilize Gevo’s SAF for their operations in California including San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles International Airports.

One member of the group has already executed a binding fuel-sales agreement whereby Gevo expects to produce and sell 30 mgy of SAF in support of the oneworld Alliance SAF purchase goal. Based on current assumptions, including those around future pricing of commodities and the future values of certain environmental benefits, Gevo estimates that the fuel sales agreement should generate approximately $800 million of revenue, inclusive of the value from environmental benefits, across the life of the contract.

Gevo’s SAF is expected to be produced using field-corn products that will be processed into ethanol and then into SAF. Gevo expects to produce the SAF at one or more facilities under development in the U.S. Midwest.

“Five months ago, we committed as an alliance to a target of 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel by 2030,” said oneworld CEO Rob Gurney. “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”, said Dr. Patrick R. Gruber, Gevo’s Chief Executive Officer. “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.”