Etihad Airways initiatives give a glimpse into the sustainable future of commercial aviation
Etihad Airways initiatives give a glimpse into the sustainable future of commercial aviation
There is no magic solution to achieving a sustainable futurefor commercial aviation, but certainly the transition to sustainability in aviation must happen in one way or another.
Creating a sustainable future for commercial aviation represents a major but achievable challenge. It requires many and diverse solutions, some of which may already exist, while others we cannot imagine yet. The strategic advisor to the Emirati company, Etihad Airways, and the former CEO of the group over the past five years, Tony Douglas, has worked in the aviation industry for more than three decades, and with regard to sustainability, Douglas says that he has witnessed more change in the past five years than in the previous 25 years. Combined.
Challenges facing commercial airlines
Airlines In the coming years, they will have to be at the forefront of sectors that apply sustainability concepts, but this challenge will only be solved through effective contributions from all stakeholders, not only Airlines, which are considered one part of the system, must be integrated with governments, policy makers, regulators, fuel companies, power plant manufacturers, infrastructure builders, and aircraft manufacturers, so it is clear that cooperation is the key to securing a future. Sustainable aviation.
The responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future for aviation cannot fall exclusively on airlines, despite the major role these companies play in finding alternatives that reduce the environmental impacts of commercial aviation, as this sector emits approximately 2.1% of the total global carbon output.
Perhaps one of the most prominent companies in the field of aviation that has worked to reduce emissions is Etihad Airways. The leading company in the field of commercial aviation has announced its commitment to a zero carbon footprint by the year 2050, with a 50% reduction by the year 2035.
Etihad Airways is actively working in developingsustainable aircraft fuels, through its programs “Greenliner” and “Sustainable 50”, and has also introduced many sustainable business practices in the air and on the ground. It created environmentally conscious consumer programs, and through these and other initiatives, Etihad showed the aviation sector and the world how commercial aviation can move towards a sustainable future.
The existential threat
Important developments inaviation technologieshave led to the significant development of this industry in recent years, as companies tend to purchase the most efficient aircraft available; With the aim of reducing costs while preserving the environment. Engagement with governments and regulatory bodies is improving the way this important industry operates, however, there are still significant challenges to overcome; To reach this vital sector to net zero emissions by 2050.
Regardless of the facts of flight physics, people will always want to move and travel, and the demand for air travel will continue to grow in the future; This is according to the International Air Transport Association, whose latest figures show that demand is expected to reach 94% of 2019 levels in 2023 and will rise to 103% in 2024 and 111% in 2025, which will increase the environmental burden. Output.
Certainly, the increase in demand for aviation necessarily means increasing environmental loads. When an aircraft burns fuel, it not only releases carbon dioxide, but it also produces other by-products, including nitrogen oxides, water vapor, and others, which react All together with the atmosphere and contribute significantly to global warming.
Openness and innovation
Important technological developments in the field of aviation have led to a significant increase in the efficiencyof aircraftrecently, and the Boeing Dreamliner is considered the most efficient aircraft in the world, as it is 22% more efficient in fuel consumption compared to the Airbus A330. Of the previous generation, and certainly there is a significant improvement in the efficiency of aircraft from the new generations that exceeds expectations.
Etihad Airways operates 787-10 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, and it already has the most efficient fleet in the world, but the airline has gone further, as its “Greenliner” and “Mustadam 50” programs are being used as a flight test base. To evaluate new initiatives, procedures and technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions in commercial aviation.
The “Greenliner” program uses Boeing Dreamliner aircraft as a base to experiment with more environmentally friendly practices in both the cabin and the wing, whether eliminating single-use plastics, or using a certain percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in some Her journeys.
Based on the lessons learned from the “Greenliner” program, the “Sustainable 50” initiative was launched for the Airbus A350 aircraft. This name was used for the initiative in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates and Etihad Airways’ commitment to net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, the initiative uses Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which were developed in cooperation with Etihad Airways. This is to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel, improve waste and weight management and improve data-based analysis.
Etihad Airways was not satisfied with that, as it entered into a partnership with SATAVIA, an environmentally friendly airline based in the United Kingdom, to develop a revolutionary technology for emissions prevention that aims to reduce the carbon impact of each flight by up to 60%.
In the end, we must emphasize that the key to achieving more environmentally friendly aviation is cooperation by everyone. Together we can do better.Sustainability is not an area of competition, but common ground. For cooperation.
