Two Alaska Airlines jets recently completed the first trial flights using alcohol-to-jet fuel produced by Gevo, Inc. Made from sustainably grown U.S. corn, the new fuel powered flights between Seattle (SEA) and San Francisco (SFO), and between Seattle and Washington, D.C. (DCA).
“Alaska is committed to doing its part to reduce its carbon emissions,” said Joseph Sprague, senior vice president of communications and external relations at Alaska Airlines. “Advancing the use of alternative jet fuels is a key part of our emissions reduction strategy. Gevo’s jet fuel product is an important step forward, in that it has the potential to be scalable and cost effective, without sacrificing performance.”
If Alaska Airlines determines the fuel is a viable long-term option and replaces just 20 percent of its current Seattle fuel supply with this renewable product, the company estimates emissions reductions equivalent to removing 30,000 passenger vehicles from U.S. roads for one year.
Pat Gruber, CEO of Gevo, said, “We believe our technology has the potential to be the lowest-cost, renewable carbon-based jet fuel, given the efficacy of our approach. We look forward to working with Alaska and others in the airline industry to make renewable jet fuel a broadly adopted substitute for fossil-based aviation fuels and to help reduce carbon emissions.”
The alcohol-to-jet fuel is produced from corn grown in the United States using sustainable practices that prioritize efficient use of water and reduced reliance on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Gevo’s process converts plant-derived alcohols into a renewable hydrocarbon fuel compatible with existing aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure, allowing airlines to lower lifecycle carbon emissions without altering operations or aircraft performance.
By testing this renewable fuel in normal commercial operations, Alaska Airlines and Gevo aim to demonstrate both performance parity and emissions benefits in real-world conditions. Broader adoption of such fuels could contribute to the aviation sector’s efforts to meet emissions targets and transition toward cleaner energy sources while maintaining safety and reliability standards.