---
title: "JetBlue, Virgin Strike Deal to Buy Jet Fuel Made From Recaptured CO2"
description: "JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic just inked multi-year contracts with a sustainable startup called Air Company, which turns recaptured CO2 into usable jet fuel."
date: "2022-09-23"
modified: "2022-09-23"
authors:
  - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré"
    job_title: "Senior Staff Writer"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/jetblue-virgin-jet-fuel-recaptured-co2"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
tags:
  - "air travel"
  - "airplanes"
  - "sustainable jet fuel"
  - "the digest"
---

# JetBlue, Virgin Strike Deal to Buy Jet Fuel Made From Recaptured CO2

![JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic just inked multi-year contracts with a sustainable startup called Air Company, which turns recaptured CO2 into usable jet fuel.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/jetblue-virgin-jet-fuel-recaptured-co2.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://unsplash.com/@benklewais" target="\_blank"\>Ben Klewais / Futurism\</a\>\</em\>*

## Jet Fuel

Emissions are complicated, but one thing's for sure: jetliners — and their fuel — are terrible for the climate. But in a bright hint of a more environmental future, several airlines are now signing deals with a company that might just lessen their environmental toll.

To wit, [*Reuters* reports that](<https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/sustainable-fuel-startup-air-company-sell-jetblue-virgin-atlantic-2022-09-22/>) JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic just inked multi-year contracts with a startup called Air Company, which turns recaptured CO2 into usable jet fuel.

The financial terms are unknown, but the amounts are appreciable: JetBlue is to buy 25 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from the startup between the years 2023 and 2027, while Virgin will reportedly purchase up to 100 million gallons over the course of a decade.

## Dropping By

Air Company's product is appealing for a few different reasons. The environmental angle is compelling, naturally, but it's also what's called a "[drop-in](<https://www.fastcompany.com/90789661/this-jet-fuel-was-made-by-sucking-carbon-out-of-the-air-it-could-power-your-flights-by-2024>)" fuel, meaning it works with traditional airplane engines. The fuel itself may or may not be pricey, but airlines have no need to worry about replacing or refurbishing the aircraft they already have.

Sara Bodgan, sustainability director at JetBlue, [told *Fast Company*](<https://www.fastcompany.com/90789661/this-jet-fuel-was-made-by-sucking-carbon-out-of-the-air-it-could-power-your-flights-by-2024>) that Air Company's SAF "has the potential to achieve commercial viability at scale," and will be a "game-changer for our industry to significantly and quickly drive down our emissions."

"We're excited to be working with Air Company," Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantic's vice president of corporate development, told *Reuters*, "to reach our 10 percent SAF target by 2030."

## Pilot Program

But to that point, while this is an intriguing experiment for the air travel industry, we'd be remiss to point out that in the grand scheme of air travel, 25 million gallons — or even 100 million gallons — of jet fuel isn't actually that much. This is a market [responsible for roughly 2 percent](<https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/sustainable-fuel-startup-air-company-sell-jetblue-virgin-atlantic-2022-09-22/>) of all global emissions, and [per *Statista*](<https://www.statista.com/statistics/197690/us-airline-fuel-consumption-since-2004/>), the industry's total jet fuel consumption rang in at a sky-high 10.28 *billion* gallons. And that was a pandemic year! In 2019, the industry went through approximately 18.27 billion gallons, and the year prior saw another 17.87 billion burned.

Of course, we're happy to see big-name businesses embrace sustainable changes, and [from vodka](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/startup-turning-co2-vodka>) to SAFs, Air Company is certainly onto something. A proof of concept is exciting, but as it's always worth remembering, green*er* doesn't necessarily mean green.

**READ MORE**: *[Sustainable fuel startup Air Company to sell to JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic](<https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/sustainable-fuel-startup-air-company-sell-jetblue-virgin-atlantic-2022-09-22/>)* \[*Reuters*\]

**More on Air Company**: *[Bless This Startup That's Turning Horrible Co2 Emissions into Delicious Vodka](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/startup-turning-co2-vodka>)*

## Author
At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride."

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/mharrisondupre.bsky.social>)