Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG partner to advance sustainable aviation fuel made from municipal solid waste

Alaska Airlines, Seattle, and SkyNRG Americas, Bend, Oregon, announced on April 14 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to increased investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Under the MOU, SkyNRG Americas will initially focus on the development of dedicated SAF production facilities to supply western U.S. airports to meet Alaska Airlines’ needs. These facilities will use commercially available technologies that enable the use of municipal solid waste and other waste-based inputs as feedstocks, as well as incorporating green hydrogen and renewable energy for minimizing carbon intensity. Beyond the focus of building out SAF production capacity, SkyNRG Americas and Alaska Airlines will continue to build awareness and understanding of SAF technologies, and advocate for public policies to accelerate the development of the SAF industry and infrastructure.

"This is a critical next step in our long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions and our impact on the planet," Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president of public affairs and sustainability for Alaska Airlines, says. "We have been working for more than a decade to advance SAF technology and viability, and we're excited to partner with SkyNRG's experienced team to advance truly sustainable production of SAF, develop supply in the Pacific Northwest, and engage partners for a commercially viable and scalable future for sustainable fuels."

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Alaska Airlines for the production of sustainable fuels," John Plaza, CEO of SkyNRG Americas, says. "Alaska Airlines is already one of the most fuel-efficient airlines in the U.S., and an ideal partner not only to support SAF demand but also to help drive necessary policy changes that will encourage development of the SAF industry across the Pacific Northwest and the nation as a whole."

This collaboration builds on the Alaska-Microsoft partnership announced in October 2020, aiming to use SAF to offset Microsoft employee travel between Seattle and San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles.