Southwest Airlines to Introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Chicago Midway

Southwest Airlines Co. announced a significant sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply agreement with Valero Marketing and Supply Company, intended to supply Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) with SAF. The agreement marks the state’s largest announced SAF supply commitment to date.

Under the terms of the two-year agreement, Southwest will purchase a minimum of 3.6 million gallons of neat SAF, translating to approximately 12 million gallons when blended. The airline also holds an option to expand the purchase to 25 million gallons of neat SAF, which would result in about 84 million gallons blended over the duration of the agreement. This supply aims to represent up to 35% of Southwest’s jet fuel use at the MDW, based on its previous year’s consumption.

The SAF will be produced from waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal tallow, and distiller’s corn oil. It promises a greenhouse gas emission reduction of 74% to 84% compared to conventional jet fuel. To ensure quality and standards, the SAF will be certified by a CORSIA-approved Sustainability Certification Scheme (SCS).

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker supported the initiative, emphasizing Illinois’s commitment to sustainability and clean energy, mentioning, “Our airports are some of the largest and most connected in the country, and I’m thrilled that Southwest and Midway International Airport are partnering to expand sustainable fuel use in their flights, an essential step toward a clean energy future.”

Diamond Green Diesel, a joint venture between Valero and Darling Ingredients Inc., will supply the neat SAF. It will be blended with Valero’s conventional jet fuel and distributed via existing infrastructure, including the Explorer Pipeline and West Shore‘s Chicagoland pipeline network.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth commended Southwest Airlines for this environmental initiative, stating its importance in making American aviation more sustainable by increasing the supply of SAF. “At the federal level, I’m going to keep pushing to increase the supply of American-grown, American-made SAF from a wide range of feedstocks,” she added.

Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee of the Chicago Department of Aviation lauded Southwest’s decision, noting the crucial role of airports in fostering sustainability in aviation. “We are thrilled that Southwest Airlines has chosen Midway International Airport to advance its commitment to sustainability through the use of SAF,” Rhee stated, encouraging further innovative solutions for the benefit of the community and the environment.