Oneworld Airlines Unveils $150M Bill Gates Fund to Boost SAF Innovations

Global airline alliance oneworld, alongside its member airlines and Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), has launched a new fund worth $150 million. This initiative is designed to tackle the issues surrounding the limited supply and high cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In a statement made on September 17, 2025, oneworld announced that BEV, which is backed by Bill Gates, will manage the fund’s capital investments.

This fund has the backing of various oneworld member airlines, including International Airlines Group (IAG), Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. Additionally, non-alliance investors like Singapore Airlines have also joined the effort.

The primary goal of the oneworld BEV Fund is to foster the global development of sustainable aviation fuel solutions that are cost-efficient, scalable, and emit lower emissions compared to traditional fuels.

“By collaborating, we’ll be better equipped to create enduring solutions for the energy transformation of an industry crucial to economic growth worldwide,” stated Nat Pieper, CEO of oneworld.

Investment Gap in the SAF Sector

Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore Airlines, highlighted that the sustainable aviation fuel industry has yet to attract substantial investments necessary for enhancing production at prices that meet market expectations. This challenge is at the forefront of concerns for oneworld and its partners.

The aviation sector generates around $4.1 trillion in economic activity and sustains approximately 86.5 million jobs, while accounting for about 2-3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Eric Toone, Chief Technology Officer at Breakthrough Energy and Managing Partner at BEV, emphasized that the oneworld BEV Fund aims to discover and scale innovative SAF technologies. These technologies should provide significant emissions reductions for jet fuel while being competitive in cost with fossil fuels and compatible with existing aviation infrastructures.

Toone acknowledged the complex nature of these challenges, noting that they will take time to resolve. Nevertheless, the fund is designed with a long-term vision to bring effective solutions to the market.