Asian airlines have carbon zero in sight as the industry rebounds
In an endeavor to fly faster, further and ever more fuel-efficiently, the air transport industry has repeatedly delivered since the Wright brothers' first flight almost 120 years ago. It bears repeating that the aviation sector was among the first to zero in on sustainability, long before "net zero" became a buzz phrase. The most recent gamechanger is the twin-engine ultra-long-range flight that slashes fuel consumption on intercontinental journeys like those between Asia and the Americas by eliminating intermediate stops. Continuous progress on fuel efficiency has been made through effective changes in infrastructure and operations. From energy efficiency improvements through the use of lightweight materials on aircraft, and optimization of flight separation, planning and taxiing to reduce fuel burn, to the enhancement of aircraft and engine designs as well as a pivot to biodegradable in-flight products, the industry's record on carbon reduction is indeed nothing but remarkable. Sustainability is a key area for innovation, given the airline industry's dependence on fossil fuels. Business-as-usual transformations have halved emissions from every passenger journey over the last 30 years. The International Civil Aviation Organization's carbon offsetting and reduction scheme and an all-industry pledge to net zero emissions through the transition to new energy sources have set the industry on the path to eliminate overall emissions growth for the next 30 years. Climate change is a generational challenge for which the fight began long before the search for alternative energy sources which, unfortunately, remain few and far between for the aviation sector. Electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft will provide partial solutions over the next 10 to 15 years, but are prospectively limited to flights below 1,500 kilometers. Carbon offsets will be essential because they bookend the net-zero emissions strategy by facilitating carbon-neutral growth to 2035 and the abatement of residual emissions through 2050. Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-09-13/general/asian-airlines-have-carbon-zero-in-sight-as-the-industry-rebounds
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Asian airlines have carbon zero in sight as the industry rebounds
In an endeavor to fly faster, further and ever more fuel-efficiently, the air transport industry has repeatedly delivered since the Wright brothers' first flight almost 120 years ago. It bears repeating that the aviation sector was among the first to zero in on sustainability, long before "net zero" became a buzz phrase. The most recent gamechanger is the twin-engine ultra-long-range flight that slashes fuel consumption on intercontinental journeys like those between Asia and the Americas by eliminating intermediate stops. Continuous progress on fuel efficiency has been made through effective changes in infrastructure and operations. From energy efficiency improvements through the use of lightweight materials on aircraft, and optimization of flight separation, planning and taxiing to reduce fuel burn, to the enhancement of aircraft and engine designs as well as a pivot to biodegradable in-flight products, the industry's record on carbon reduction is indeed nothing but remarkable. Sustainability is a key area for innovation, given the airline industry's dependence on fossil fuels. Business-as-usual transformations have halved emissions from every passenger journey over the last 30 years. The International Civil Aviation Organization's carbon offsetting and reduction scheme and an all-industry pledge to net zero emissions through the transition to new energy sources have set the industry on the path to eliminate overall emissions growth for the next 30 years. Climate change is a generational challenge for which the fight began long before the search for alternative energy sources which, unfortunately, remain few and far between for the aviation sector. Electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft will provide partial solutions over the next 10 to 15 years, but are prospectively limited to flights below 1,500 kilometers. Carbon offsets will be essential because they bookend the net-zero emissions strategy by facilitating carbon-neutral growth to 2035 and the abatement of residual emissions through 2050. Story has more.<br/>
