Investments in climate compensation, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and new technology to streamline operations are therefore top priorities for airlines in working towards this goal.
In 2021, IATA committed to implementing Fly Net Zero, an ambition by airlines to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050. As the deadline approaches, airlines are under pressure to address environmental issues and adopt increasingly sustainable practices.
Amadeus has recently conducted a survey among 90 leading airline sustainability decision-makers across nine markets. The results show which environmental, social and governance (ESG) focus areas are important to the sector and what is required to achieve sustainability goals.
The survey found that airlines are increasingly prioritizing and investing in ESG. Over half (54%) of respondents said they plan to invest more in ESG initiatives in 2024 than they did in 2022, while over a third (34%) plan to spend the same amount. Overall, airlines are positive about achieving their targets within the timeframe set by IATA. 59% of airlines already have a step-by-step plan in place and 31% are planning to implement one.
This is clearly evident from the fact that airline ESG decision-makers believe that technology has the potential to help the industry achieve sustainability goals, for example by giving travelers more choice when it comes to sustainable travel options and by enabling industry collaboration.
Virtual or augmented reality (37%) and generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) interfaces (36%) are cited as the technologies that could have the greatest impact on accelerating the achievement of environmental goals. 47% of respondents also believe that technology will improve access to travel through integrated accessibility technology.
When airlines invest, carbon emissions and reduced environmental impact are key focus areas, with improvements in operational efficiency (54%), development of new aircraft technology (48%) and improvements to existing aircraft technology (44%) being the top three priorities for airlines.
Johan Nordqvist, CEO Amadeus in Scandinavia, says: ”By leveraging technology-driven solutions and strategic partnerships, we provide our customers with the tools to implement sustainable practices. We recently announced our intention to invest in the debut Clear Sky Fund, a global organization focused on sustainable fuels, carbon capture and alternative propulsion.”.
By providing comprehensive carbon emissions data, Amadeus technology provides airlines with valuable insights into the environmental impact of their operations, which can be an important contribution to promoting climate compensation solutions.
According to the press release.
