Southwest Airlines to buy renewable jet fuel from Red Rocks

Sep 25, 2014 - US-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) on Wednesday unveiled a purchase agreement with Red Rocks Biofuels LLC under which it will buy renewable jet fuel for its operations.

The airline services provider will purchase about 3 million gallons (11.4 million litres) of biofuel each year for its Bay Area business, with first deliveries seen to take place in 2016.

The renewable jet fuel will be sourced from forest residues and will be produced at Red Rocks’ first manufacturing facility in Oregon. Last week, the company was awarded a contract by the US Departments of Navy, Energy and Agriculture to build the plant, which will be able to manufacture at least 12 million gallons of renewable jet, diesel, and naphtha fuels each year.

Southwest is a member of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) -- a government and industry partnership that aims to promote the use of alternative jet fuel for commercial aviation purposes.

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