United Airlines has expanded its decarbonisation strategy with an investment in direct air capture (DAC) firm Heirloom through its UAV Sustainable Flight Fund. The move marks United’s first investment in a company commercialising DAC technology and strengthens its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
As part of the agreement, the fund has also secured the right to purchase up to 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) for use in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production or for permanent underground storage.
Heirloom’s technology accelerates the natural ability of limestone to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, positioning it as a potentially cost-effective and scalable solution for carbon removal.
Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures, described carbon capture as “one of the country’s fastest-growing, energy-enabling pathways”. He added, “At UAV, our primary focus is on finding decarbonisation solutions that are commercially viable. Heirloom’s technology aligns directly with this objective and complements United’s long-term sustainability commitments.”
Shashank Samala, Heirloom’s chief executive, welcomed the partnership, “We are proud to have the United Sustainable Flight Fund as an investor and to work together in scaling our DAC technology. By using DAC both to reduce CO2 emissions from aviation fuel and to remove residual emissions, we are creating a genuine pathway to net-zero aviation.”
United’s investment in Heirloom is its third in carbon capture but its first in DAC, which extracts CO2 directly from the air rather than from a specific emissions source, such as a power plant. The airline continues to explore innovative solutions to mitigate aviation’s environmental impact as it works towards a more sustainable future.
