Pump Cleaner Fuel, Hawaii

The skies over paradise are likely to get friendlier as the Hawai'i's largest and longest-serving airline makes plans to fill up on more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its gateway cities in California.

Hawaiian Airlines recently pledged to buy 50 million gallons of SAF over five years from Gevo, Inc. , a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company based in Colorado.

“This offtake agreement gets us one step closer to achieving our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Peter Ingram, the airline's president and CEO. “We intend to continue to invest in SAF, which will be pivotal in reducing our impact on the environment."

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Buy Could Cut Toxic Emissions by Nearly 400K MTs

The purchase has the potential to cut CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change and air pollution by 390,000 metric tons or 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

The fuel, to be made of residual starch from inedible corn waste, will be converted from the sustainable raw materials, grown through regenerative farming practices, using renewable electricity and biogas.

Hawaiian Airlines offers 130 daily flights to, around and from the Hawaiian Islands with more nonstops than any other airline from 15 gateway cities.

Not First Sustainable Jet Fuels Rodeo For State's Top Airline

The airline's latest SAF buy is not its first foray into the wonderful world of sustainable jet fuel. In 2022, Hawaiian teamed up with Par Hawaii, the state's leading supplier of transportation fuels, to determine the commercial feasibility of producing SAF within the state.

The companies are also examining the prospect of converting two of the refiner's processing units in Kapolei for renewable fuel production, including one for SAF, and of using locally grown crops as feedstocks for clean fuels, among other ideas. 

Major Hawai'i Servicer Alaska Airlines To Expand SAF Use In Pacific Northwest

Hawaiian Airlines' SAF news came the same day as Alaskan Airlines announced plans to help improve access to the sustainable jet fuel market in the Pacific Northwest and purchase 10M gallons of SAF for its Los Angeles hub.

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