For a green aviation and a much brighter future. It may seem like a romantic concept, but it is not as far fetched as you may think. For some time, airlines have been committed to reducing their carbon footprint, either with more fuel-efficient aircraft, greener fuel or simply by having a more efficient and greener waste management plan.
In August, I spoke about the effort airlines like American Airlines and KLM were doing to implement SAF in their aircraft. A few weeks later, I spoke about the contract between United Airlines and Boom Supersonic for the delivery of the new Overture, a new supersonic aircraft that runs on SAF. Recently, airlines like Qantas, British Airways and Air New Zealand vowed to stop utilising single-use plastic in their flights. It seems like the industry is pulling its weight and helping the environment. But why do they do it?
The survival of the sector depends on it
The world is finally moving towards a greener and healthier planet. In Glasgow, world leaders pledged to reduce their emissions and help fight global warming. I’m not going to lie, I believe there’s still a lot to be done, but at least we are talking about it and making plans to make it happen. So, if their promises are true, which I want to believe they are, emissions need to come down to zero, and there’s no time to waste. Today, aviation is a sector responsible for 2% of global emissions, and among all ways of transport, aviation is responsible for 12% of emissions. Road transports are responsible for 74%. Although the sector is not the biggest polluter, that 2% need to come down if they want to fly to destinations where restrictions will be imposed in the future and that 0 emissions targets are met. So, if they want to survive, they need to change.
It’s the evolution and aviation showing it’s keeping up with time
Aviation is also quite innovative sector. Always thinking ahead of its time, that’s how it started in the first place. It is a very challenging industry and it’s not at all the glamour it is perceived to be. The costs involved in running a profitable airline are incredibly high, and the challenge is always trying to bring them down. So, if it wasn’t for the environment and for a greener aviation it would be for the health of the sector. Every new aircraft is always better than its predecessor, more technologically advanced, more fuel-efficient, lighter, etc. This is simply the natural evolution of the industry I think. What is different here, is that entrepreneurs are more responsible and informed, and they care about the environment and the future. This also reflects in their decisions and the outcomes for us all.