Summary
- Riyadh Air has committed to the United Nations Global Compact.
- The airline promised to issue annual reports as a part of its commitment to the sustainable development principles.
- Riyadh Air, a part of Saudi Vision 2030, goals to launch operations in 2025.
Riyadh Air has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact scheme, even before taking off on its first flight. The airline has pledged to make the UN’s principles a part of its strategy and every day operations.
17 sustainability goals and principles
Tony Douglas, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Riyadh Air, told Easy Flying on the sidelines of the Center for Aviation (CAPA) Airline Leader Summit – Airlines In Transition event in Granda, Spain, that the airline joined the UN Global Compact on March 5, 2024.
In accordance with Douglas, the airline has also signed up for all 17 of the Compact’s sustainable development goals, with the chief adding that some airlines have committed to several of them. Nonetheless, Riyadh Air has pledged to include all 17 principles in its every day operations. He commented,
“The Global Compact is 17 separate sustainability goals. Many airlines have committed to signing as much as quite a few them – perhaps six or eight of them – for good reason. What we’re gonna have a crack at is all 17 of them from the get-go.”
Photo: Riyadh Air
In a letter to Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, published publicly by the organization, Douglas told Guterres that Riyadh Air firmly supports the ‘Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact’ on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.
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Communicating with the UN
Douglas, who signed the letter to Guterres, stated that Riyadh Air will make continuous statements about its commitments to its stakeholders and the general public. The chief added that the airline realizes that one in all the necessities to take part in the UN Global Compact is the publication of an annual report of communication on progress (CoP) describing its efforts to implement the Ten Principles.
Photo: Riyadh Air
Moreover, Douglas emphasized that Riyadh Air supports public accountability and transparency. Due to this fact, it was able to commit to publishing its progress report a calendar 12 months after its joining date. Subsequently, Riyadh Air will publicize the reports annually.
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