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The revival of air travel over the past two years has provided a welcome boost to the aviation industry, but increased air traffic has placed an even greater burden on the environment, according to leading industry experts in the Arabian Travel Market 2023.
To explore solutions beyond carbon offsetting, SimpliFlying founder and CEO Shashank Nigam convened a panel of experts on the global stage at ATM 2023 to discuss the actions needed to future-proof the air travel industry.
Participating panelists included Brian Moran, Vice President, Global Sustainability Policy and Partnerships, Boeing; Yvonne Moynihan, Chief Corporate and ESG Officer, Wizz Air; and Dave Rowse, CEO, CarbonClick, who each shared their views on the strategy and challenges of flying net zero.
Speakers agreed that the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays a key role in helping the industry achieve its long-term sustainability goals.
Moynihan said: “From 2025, all airlines will be required to use SAF fuel. To succeed, Wizz Air has invested £5 million (AED 22,923,120) in UK-based SAF producer Firefly to support the development of and certify SAF produced from sewage sludge. This agreement makes it possible for us to save 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Airlines must support SAF production as supply is currently limited.”
Experts agree that the cost of SAF is one of the major near-term obstacles. Rowse commented: “Several airlines are grappling with the exorbitant cost of SAF, including Etihad Airways, which subsidizes the cost of passengers who choose to use SAF to offset their journey. It will take five to 10 years It will take time to produce reasonable quantities. While there is consumer demand for SAF, passengers are not prepared to pay its full cost – so airline subsidies may help encourage this process and ultimately drive production faster.”
To strike a balance between short-term and long-term capabilities, Boeing is focusing on developing today’s fuel-efficient planes while investing in technologies that will allow the industry to predict the future and “mitigate risk,” he said.
Last year, Boeing announced Cascade, a data modeling tool that enables airlines to plan the best routes to achieve net-zero emissions. Additionally, the company is working with NASA to build, test and fly a full-scale demonstration aircraft and demonstrate technologies aimed at reducing emissions.
There are approximately 24,000 aircraft in the air today, a number that will double in the next 20 years, Moran noted.
“These will be legacy aircraft, and in order to decarbonise and get on track to net zero emissions by 2050, airlines will have to fly with SAF, so our priority is to ensure that 100% of our aircraft are SAF capable. What matters is that we invest in the here and now,” he noted.
Organizers said the 30th edition of ATM explored the future of sustainable tourism with the theme “Strive for Net Zero Emissions”.
Following the official launch of the Net Zero Tour, the conference program explores how innovative sustainable travel trends may evolve, enabling delegates to identify growth strategies for key verticals while providing a platform for regional experts to explore sustainable travel ahead of COP28 In the future, they added, this will take place in Dubai Expo City in November 2023.
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