Industrial carbon transformation company Twelve officially opened AirPlant One in Moses Lake, Washington, on June 10, 2026, establishing the first commercial-scale facility in the United States dedicated to producing power-to-liquid SAF. The facility utilizes captured carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity to manufacture synthetic fuel without upstream fossil fuel extraction.

In a press release issued by Twelve, the company confirmed the plant is now operational and producing E-Jet fuel, alongside a byproduct called E-Naphtha. The milestone follows a $645 million funding round secured in September 2024 to scale operations and fulfills a 2022 joint commitment from Alaska Airlines (AS) and Microsoft Corporation to purchase the facility’s output.

Commercializing power-to-liquid aviation fuel

Twelve’s proprietary process bypasses traditional biomass-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production methods. Instead, the Moses Lake facility synthesizes drop-in aviation fuel directly from renewable electricity, water, and captured carbon dioxide. According to the company, this E-Jet fuel delivers up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.

Beyond emissions reductions, the power-to-liquid model introduces a new economic framework for Airlines fuel procurement. Because the primary input cost is electricity, production can be tied to long-term power purchase agreements. Twelve states this structure can offer airlines price predictability horizons exceeding 10 years, insulating operators from the volatility of global crude oil markets.

“We broke ground on AirPlant One with a simple thesis: that the fuels powering the global economy could be made from renewable electricity and air, anywhere in the world,” said Nicholas Flanders, Co-Founder and CEO of Twelve. “Today, that thesis is operational and Alaska Airlines will fly on fuel made right here in Washington State.”

Corporate Partnerships and market demand

The development of AirPlant One relied heavily on early demand signals from major corporate partners. In 2022, Alaska Airlines and Microsoft committed to purchasing the facility’s future output, providing the commercial foundation necessary to secure project financing. Alaska Star Ventures, the airline’s investment arm, also participated in Twelve’s recent funding rounds.

Ryan Spies, Managing Director of Sustainability for Alaska Airlines, noted that the partnership demonstrates how collaboration can advance SAF technology while diversifying fuel supply chains and strengthening energy security.

Microsoft is utilizing a book-and-claim accounting model to apply the environmental attributes of the E-Jet fuel toward reducing its reported business travel emissions. Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, stated that the company’s investment helps scale energy solutions and lays the groundwork for cleaner aviation globally.

AirPro News analysis

The activation of AirPlant One represents a critical pivot point for the US sustainable aviation fuel market. While biomass-derived SAF currently dominates the limited global supply, agricultural and waste feedstock constraints will eventually cap its scalability. Power-to-liquid synthetic fuels offer a theoretically limitless production ceiling, provided sufficient renewable energy and carbon capture infrastructure exist.

We view the localized production aspect as increasingly vital. As international Regulations begin mandating physical SAF blending at specific airports rather than relying entirely on book-and-claim credits, domestic facilities like AirPlant One will become essential infrastructure. The ability to offer airlines decade-long fixed fuel prices could also fundamentally alter airline cost structures if power-to-liquid production reaches parity with conventional jet fuel volumes.

Sources: Twelve Benefit Corporation

Garmin Ltd. expanded its proprietary aviation navigation database to include coverage for more than 40 countries across Africa on June 11, 2026, introducing a unified subscription model that bridges the Americas, Europe, and the African continent.

In a press release issued from its Olathe, Kansas headquarters, the avionics manufacturer detailed the rollout of the Transatlantic OnePak. The new subscription tier is designed to simplify database updates and reduce costs for operators flying across multiple regions, providing foundational data for departure, enroute, arrival, and approach phases of flight.

Transatlantic OnePak and pricing structure

The introduction of the Transatlantic OnePak allows aircraft owners to update compatible Garmin avionics systems and a Garmin Pilot application subscription under a single annual fee. The base Transatlantic OnePak subscription starts at $999 annually. For operators requiring terminal procedure charts, a bundled option including FliteCharts is available starting at $1,399 per year.

For operators flying exclusively within the new coverage area, Garmin offers standalone annual subscriptions for the Africa navigation database starting at $449 for certified avionics systems. The company also provides a single-month purchase option starting at $149, catering to pilots who may only require temporary access for specific trips or ferry flights.

Ecosystem integration and wireless updates

The expanded database integrates directly into Garmin’s existing wireless update ecosystem. Operators utilizing the Garmin Aviation Database Manager can download the Africa coverage or the full Transatlantic OnePak to their devices.

The system supports wireless database loading through Database Concierge, which connects the Garmin Pilot application to compatible flight decks. Aircraft equipped with the GDL 60 datalink and PlaneSync technology can automate this process further, allowing the avionics to download updates remotely while the aircraft is powered down.

AirPro News analysis

Garmin’s expansion into Africa addresses a historical gap in unified, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) provided navigation data for the continent. By bundling Africa, Europe, and the Americas into the Transatlantic OnePak, Garmin is targeting the growing segment of light jet and turboprop operators who frequently cross the Atlantic or operate between Europe and Africa. The pricing structure incentivizes the OnePak over standalone regional databases for any operator flying internationally. The integration with PlaneSync ensures that the administrative burden of database management remains low even as the geographic footprint expands. We view this as a strategic move to lock international operators deeper into the Garmin ecosystem.

Sources: Garmin

AutoFlight’s V2000CG CarryAll unmanned cargo eVTOL has become the first electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to secure overseas type certificate validation, following approval from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 3, 2026.

The Validated Type Certificate (VTC) clears the 2-ton aircraft for commercial cargo operations across Indonesia. In an official statement released on June 11, 2026, AutoFlight noted the milestone establishes an operational foundation for commercial eVTOL services in Southeast Asia and advances the manufacturer’s global market expansion strategy.

Certification path and operational capabilities

The V2000CG originally received its Type Certificate (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on March 22, 2024. AutoFlight submitted its VTC application to the Indonesian regulator in July 2025. The recent approval confirms the aircraft’s design complies with the airworthiness requirements of both national aviation authorities.

Indonesia presents unique logistics challenges due to its geography of more than 17,000 islands. AutoFlight stated the V2000CG’s fully electric lift-and-cruise configuration, which requires no runway infrastructure, is suited for inter-island transport of high-value goods such as fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and emergency supplies.

The V2000CG features a maximum take-off weight of 2,000 kilograms and a payload capacity of 400 kilograms. It operates with a cruise speed of 200 kilometers per hour and a range of 200 kilometers.

Recent flight testing and global expansion

The Indonesian validation follows a series of operational demonstrations by AutoFlight throughout the spring of 2026. On April 17, 2026, the autonomous V2000CG transported fresh tea over mountainous terrain in Guizhou, China, reducing a lengthy road journey to a 37-minute flight.

International expansion efforts have also included a demonstration flight in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on May 19, 2026. During that event, AutoFlight signed a memorandum of understanding with Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. for the purchase of 50 large eVTOL aircraft from the V2000 and V5000 series to develop a low-altitude transport network in Central Asia.

On May 26, 2026, the manufacturer completed a mixed-fleet formation flight to validate communication links and flight coordination between its 2-ton V2000-series and 5-ton V5000 Matrix aircraft.

AirPro News analysis

We view the DGCA validation as a critical proof of concept for bilateral eVTOL certification pathways. While much of the advanced air mobility sector remains focused on passenger transport in the United States and Europe, AutoFlight’s strategy highlights the immediate commercial viability of heavy-lift unmanned cargo operations in regions with challenging geography. Securing a VTC outside the manufacturer’s home country demonstrates that regulatory frameworks for autonomous electric aviation are maturing in Southeast Asia, potentially accelerating adoption timelines ahead of Western markets.

Sources: AutoFlight