More must be done for aviation net zero: Qatar Airways CEO

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said, in an interview with CNN, that while he “very much cares about sustainability,” there is not enough will in the airline industry to reach net zero by 2050. "I genuinely believe that will be very difficult to achieve," he told CNN’s Becky Anderson in Doha. The pair discussed the airline’s plans to try to get to net-zero, the challenges facing the aviation industry in 2023, and the post-World Cup 2023 landscape. Key quotes from Al Baker: On Qatar Airways’ commitment to sustainability: “I very much care about sustainability. Qatar Airways has today one of the youngest fleets in the world, and we keep on investing – we have nearly 150 aircraft on order that need to be delivered, and they are all absolutely fuel efficient. We are hugely involved in recyclable materials in the airline, we are constantly investing in improving fuel burn on the airplane – but there is only so much we can do. The industry should also get involved. The oil companies need to roll up their sleeves and provide us sustainable fuel in the volumes we want, at the price where the passenger will be able to afford, which is not happening.” On whether he believes reaching net-zero by 2050 is possible: “I genuinely believe that it will be very difficult to achieve the targets by 2050, because there is not that much will. 2050 is not too far away.” <br/>