Summary
- The aviation industry plans to develop into carbon-neutral by 2050, requiring collaboration amongst airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and airports.
- Scandinavian Airlines is already using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and has launched the Travel Pass Biofuel program for corporate customers to make flights fossil fuel-free.
- Skellefteå City Airport has enrolled in SAS’s Corporate Sustainability Program, aiming to fly with 100% biofuel on business trips by 2023-2024, replacing all conventional aviation fuels.
The aviation industry is planning to develop into carbon-neutral by 2050. The goal requires airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and airports to work together in constructing infrastructure and technologies to cut back emissions and pollutants.
The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Fly Net Zero plan is centered around using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). An airline already utilizing SAFs is Scandinavian Airlines, which launched the Travel Pass Biofuel program for its corporate customers to make their flights fossil fuel-free.
The once-bankrupt airline sells SAF at no profit to airports through its Corporate Sustainability Program. Skellefteå City Airport has develop into the primary individual airport to enroll on this program. The Airport’s CEO, Robert Lindberg, had this to say:
“Skellefteå Airport is already actively engaged within the aviation industry’s climate transition, so it’s natural for us that the staff should fly fossil-free when traveling by air. Flying with 100 % biofuel on all our business trips with SAS 2023-2024 replaces all fossil aviation fuel with sustainable fuel.”
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
In one other statement, the Head of Sustainability at SAS, Ann-Sofie Hörlin, said this in regards to the recent partnership:
“By involving our customers and teaming up with them, we’ll reduce fossil CO2 emissions and enable more large-scale production of sustainable aviation fuels. We hope the partnership between Skellefteå City Airport and SAS will encourage other firms to hitch our Corporate Sustainability Program and be a part of the journey to rework aviation for generations to return. Skellefteå Municipality joined this system earlier this 12 months. Skellefteå is actually on the forefront on the subject of actively driving the change towards more sustainable aviation.”
The Star Alliance member is sort of serious about its commitment to sustainability. The airline is an IATA, ATAG, SAFUG, and Sustainable Biofuel Network member and has formulated performance indicators based on the UN Global Compact.
Aviation and the Environment
Based on a 2018 Environmental Energy Study Institute study, the worldwide aviation industry is one of the significant contributors to global warming. It’s accountable for about 2.4% of worldwide C02 emissions. Additional emissions comparable to nitrogen oxides (NOx) and contrails have doubled their impact on climate change.
Photo: Flypix | Shutterstock
In total, aviation accounts for 3.4% of synthetic global warming. If passenger air travel and freight proceed to grow at their projected rate, emissions by business aircraft can triple by 2050. To forestall this, the ICAO has set clear goals to cut back aircraft emissions in the approaching years.