IAG said it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, becoming the first major airlines group to make such a commitment. The aviation industry is under intense pressure from climate change activist such as Extinction Rebellion. IAG said it would achieve its target with steps such as carbon offsetting for British Airways' domestic flights from 2020, investing in sustainable aviation fuel and replacing older aircraft with more efficient jets over the next 5 years. "We're investing in new aircraft and innovative technology to reduce our carbon footprint in an industry where there's no current alternative to jet fuel," IAG CE Willie Walsh said. IAG said the steps would help the airline contribute both to Britain's goal for a net zero carbon economy by 2050 and a UN objective to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. <br/>
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Qantas Airways will begin testing the longest direct flights in the world next Friday, as the airline aims to stretch the boundaries of technological innovation in a bid to woo premium passengers from rival carriers. The flights will mark the first time a commercial airline has flown direct from New York to Sydney — a distance of more than 16,000km — and only the second time it has been between London and Sydney, a route of more than 17,000km that is expected to take up to 20 hours. The test flights are part of “Project Sunrise”, a plan by Qantas to operate nonstop commercial flights from the east coast of Australia to London, New York, Paris, Frankfurt and destinations in Latin America and Africa, such as Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. It follows the launch of several other ultra-long-haul routes by rivals. <br/>
Malaysia Airlines reported a net loss of MYR791.7m (US$190.5m) for 2018, narrowed from a MYR812.1m loss in the previous year. Revenue was up 0.8% year-over-year to MYR8.74b, the carrier reported in the delayed financial results. CE Izham Ismail said in March that 2018 saw “intense competition, with supply outstripping demand, as well as volatility in fuel and foreign exchange.” Worsening conditions had derailed the airline’s turnaround plans, Izham said in June, but the carrier will continue to look to improve revenue through measures such as “deeper collaboration with partners,” most recently a codeshare agreement with British Airways. MAB’s total assets slid from MYR5.78b to MYR5.12b, with liabilities increasing 15.7% to MYR5.9b. <br/>