DALLAS, April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced memoranda of
understanding with two leading energy companies, Marathon Petroleum
Corporation (NYSE: MPC), and Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), intended to
facilitate the development and production of commercialized
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). These collaborations may include a
variety of initiatives, for example an increased focus to advocate
SAF policies with governmental agencies, cooperation to
advance research and development targeted toward greater
commercialization of SAF at progressively lower carbon intensities,
and partnerships on initiatives to raise public awareness of SAF's
benefits.
"Fuel is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the
aviation industry and Southwest continually seeks an innovative
approach to reduce them," said Stacy
Malphurs, Vice President of Supply Chain Management &
Environmental Sustainability. "Our plans include the integration of
SAF, a lower carbon alternative on a lifecycle basis to
conventional jet fuel, in our operations and we look forward to
opportunities with MPC and Phillips 66 to help make that happen.
Working with these valued partners, alongside other organizations,
is intended to help scale-up the SAF industry, bringing SAF to
market at competitive prices and helping Southwest meet its
carbon-reduction goals."
Southwest, nearing two decades as the largest carrier of air
travelers to, from, and within California*, plans to utilize any SAF, if
acquired from MPC's planned Martinez Renewable Fuels facility and
from Phillips 66's Rodeo Renewed facility, in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout its
operation in the Golden State. According to estimates from MPC and
Phillips 66, combined, these renewables facilities may produce at
least 300 million gallons of SAF by 2025. Southwest and these
energy companies will explore separate offtake agreements for
Southwest's possible purchase of a substantial share of this SAF—
an amount that could represent a significant portion of Southwest's
current demand for conventional jet fuel in California.
*USDOT O&D survey 2001-2020
"Air travel will continue to be one of the primary ways people
build connections with each other and the world around them," said
Brian Davis, MPC Executive Vice
President and Chief Commercial Officer. "Increasing the commercial
viability of sustainable aviation fuel is a natural next step for
the airline industry and our own, and we look forward to extending
our ongoing partnership with Southwest Airlines, including
supporting their efforts to reduce carbon emissions."
"Phillips 66 has a long history of driving innovation in the
commercial and general aviation industry," said Brian Mandell, Executive Vice President of
Marketing and Commercial for Phillips 66. "We are excited to work
with Southwest Airlines to find ways to help achieve its
lower-carbon goals and to develop a path forward for sustainable
aviation fuel that benefits all segments of the industry."
Southwest continues to increase its commitment and desire to
integrate SAF in its operation as the carrier recognizes
commercially viable SAF will play an important role in achieving
carbon neutrality by 2050. The Carrier announced yesterday an
ongoing partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to support NREL's work to
enhance the commercialization of SAF at progressively-lower carbon
intensities.
ABOUT MARATHON:
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)
is a leading, integrated, downstream energy company headquartered
in Findlay, Ohio. The company
operates the nation's largest refining system. MPC's marketing
system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand
retail outlets. Speedway LLC, an MPC subsidiary, owns and operates
retail convenience stores across the
United States. MPC also owns the general partner and
majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company
that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation
assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and
logistics infrastructure. More information is available at
www.marathonpetroleum.com.
ABOUT PHILLIPS 66:
Phillips 66 is a diversified energy
manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream,
Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the
company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and
products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company's master
limited partnership, is integral to the portfolio. Headquartered in
Houston, the company has 14,300
employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66
had $55 billion of assets as of
Dec. 31, 2020. For more information,
visit www.phillips66.com or follow us on
Twitter @Phillips66Co.
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.