Alaska Airlines are proud to announce their partnership with Shell Aviation, in the hopes of expanding the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market beyond the industries standards. Combining the world-class fuel supplier and the US’ fifth-largest domestic airline, allows for cross-industry success in tackling the on-going advancements in sustainable fuel alternatives. This partnership hopes to bring new SAF advances through technology, development, infrastructure, and investments. 


“Alaska Airlines has set our course to net zero by 2040 and sustainable aviation fuels represent the greatest near-term opportunity to make a step-level change on that journey,” stated Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, Diana Birkett Rakow.  


Alaska Airlines has developed SAF technologies to sustain the next decade, but they need help putting them fully into fruition within the market. Shell’s deep knowledge of the fuel and energy industry will play a huge role in this partnership, as well as their infrastructure requirements to make lower lifecycle carbon SAF more readily and widely available throughout the industry. Infrastructure refers to the equipment and systems needed to produce, distribute, store, monitor, and dispense fuel. By these companies working together to leverage, or take advantage of, that fuel infrastructure, they can expand SAF access to more markets – gaining more speed to reach their environmental goals. 


SAF is a safe and sustainable fuel alternative that many international airlines have been newly acquiring for an eco-friendly transition. This certified drop-in fuel meets the jet fuel standards in the industry reducing carbon emissions by up to 80% of lifecycle emissions. 


“We need support from the entire ecosystem to build a sustainable future for aviation. This deep level of collaboration will help us put the technologies and supply chain in place to advance the industry,” stated President of Shell Aviation, Jan Toschka. 


Their joint ambition and drive to help the environment on a large scale will push their outcomes further. One of the main obstacles airlines and the overall aviation industry face when trying to transition to SAF, is cost and availability of the resource. The companies plan on addressing both cost and volume in order to close that gap in commercial fuel accessibility. The agreement encompasses the commitments to broaden and deepen the understanding of the technology, carbon accounting systems, and the other factors that are necessary to heightened access to SAF. Shell has also written that they will supply about 10 million gallons of SAF to the Alaska Airlines hub in Los Angeles.

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