Sustainability In The Air How Alaska Star Ventures is funding the future of sustainable aviation
In this episode, we speak with Pasha Saleh, Head of Corporate Development at Alaska Airlines, who leads Alaska Star Ventures, the airline’s corporate venture capital arm focused on sustainable aviation technologies. Saleh shares insights about the airline’s approach to sustainability investments and their vision for decarbonising the industry.
Saleh discusses:
- The founding vision for Alaska Star Ventures, which was established to accelerate the development of technologies that don’t yet exist but are essential for achieving net zero.
- The investment strategy that started with partnerships with firms to gain expertise before making direct investments, resulting in nearly $90 million deployed to date across various aviation sustainability technologies.
- Strategic investments in companies like Jet Zero, a blended wing aircraft that could deliver up to 50% fuel reduction.
- The airline’s approach to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investments through companies like Twelve and Air Company, focusing on Power-to-Liquid technology that produces fuel from air and water.
Saleh emphasises that sustainability investments are “going to give rise to whole new industries that don’t exist yet today,” highlighting Alaska Airlines’ approach to shaping the future of sustainable aviation.
If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Eveliina Huurre, SVP, Sustainability at Finnair, who shares the airline’s comprehensive approach to sustainability as it celebrated its centenary last year. Check it out here.
Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.
Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.
Links & More:
Alaska Airlines launches investment arm to accelerate progress to net zero - Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines’ venture lab spins out its first startup: Odysee - TechCrunch