DALLAS, April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") announced today
its ongoing support of the U.S. Department of Energy's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop commercially viable
and scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Southwest® has undertaken multiple efforts over the
years to minimize its carbon footprint and the Company continues to
seek opportunities to help mitigate emissions. NREL presents one of
those opportunities, as Southwest intends to continue to support
NREL's work to develop low-carbon, low-cost, high-performance
aviation fuels created from wet waste. Southwest plans to work with
NREL to bridge a gap between the science behind SAF and the
application of these sustainable fuels on a commercial level.
"We recognize the important role SAF will play in Southwest's
journey to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050—a goal we're dedicated
to reaching," said Stacy Malphurs,
Vice President of Supply Chain Management & Environmental
Sustainability. "By working with organizations like NREL, Southwest
embraces a great opportunity to advance the crucial science that
makes this technology possible, and more available. We're excited
to work with NREL toward commercially-viable SAF."
According to NREL, its analysis quantifies that U.S. wet waste,
including food waste, could produce enough energy content to cover
about 20% of U.S. jet fuel consumption. Conventional jet fuel is a
primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation
industry—showing the value of creating low carbon or
carbon-negative SAF (on a lifecycle carbon assessment basis) from
low-cost wet waste is a step toward one day reducing reliance on
traditional jet fuel.
NREL has demonstrated how to make SAF from wet waste that is
compatible with existing jet engines," said NREL scientist
Derek Vardon. "It has the potential
for a carbon negative footprint when diverting food waste from
landfills."
As a leading global citizen, Southwest remains dedicated to
doing the right thing for its People, through its Performance, and
in service to the Planet. Southwest recognizes conservation can be
more impactful when we all work together for a more sustainable
future. For more information about Southwest's citizenship efforts,
visit southwestonereport.com.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million
Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of
point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure
and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest
operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101
destinations in the United States
and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs,
Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and
Montrose (Telluride/Crested Butte), Colo. Thus far in 2021,
Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton, both on Feb.
14; Savannah/Hilton Head and
Colorado Springs, both on March 11;
as well as Houston (Bush) and
Santa Barbara, Calif., both on
April 12; and will begin service to
Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on
May 6; Myrtle Beach S.C. on May 23; Bozeman,
Mont. on May 27; Jackson,
Miss. on June 6; and Eugene,
Ore. on Aug. 29. The Company
also has announced an intention to initiate new service to
Bellingham, Wash., later this
year.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in
May 2020 to highlight new and
round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees
well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning
efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal
mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times
throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest
Promise are available
at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its
purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and
low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S.
airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second
checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some
carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified
circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare
differences might apply.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world,
known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the
carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of
its People and the communities they serve, and an overall
commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the
carrier gives back to communities across the world by
visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at
Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.