REPORT
Sustainable Aviation
Outlook Report 2024
Sustainable Aviation
Outlook Report 2024
Our report provides a comprehensive analysis of the airline industry’s progress, challenges, and opportunities towards achieving net-zero goals.
Where do we stand?
The world is reeling from the climate crisis – record temperatures, heatwaves, floods, wildfires, ecosystem damage, loss of livelihoods and economic distress all threaten not just our future but the present as well. Given the state of affairs, the question of what the industry can do to about sustainability is rife with controversy, speculation and divided opinions. Is net zero by 2050 realistic? Is it equitable for all? Do we have the money to make it happen? Will customers support it?
Aviation’s pathways to net zero, too, are hotly contested. Only sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with its myriad challenges, is available at present. Other technologies – hydrogen, electric or hybrid versions of both – are years away from commercial entry.
In such a scenario, an airline executive working in sustainability might be tempted to give in to hopelessness or despair. We attempt to provide an antidote to such pessimism.
To gain a deeper understanding of how airlines are approaching sustainability, we conducted a comprehensive survey of 20 leading carriers from around the world, including major players such as Air France-KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa Group, All Nippon Airways, and Southwest Airlines. The survey covered five key areas: team structure, sustainability strategy, perception of sustainability and communications, sustainability initiatives, and budget and future outlook.
Our objective was to assess the current state of sustainability efforts within the airline industry, identify best practices and challenges, and provide insights into how carriers can effectively integrate sustainability into their business strategies. Rich and comprehensive data from our partners Cirium and Envest has further helped us paint a vivid picture of the current aviation landscape.
Key takeaways for airlines:
Sustainability should be a top investment priority
Airlines must be willing to make bold, long-term bets on sustainable aviation fuels, fleet renewal, and other game-changing innovations.
Industry-wide collaboration is imperative
Airlines must work together to drive down costs of sustainable technologies, engage governments and stakeholders to create supportive policies and infrastructure, and build trust with customers.
Resist the urge to invest only in perfect solutions
Instead, airlines should commit to the hard work of incremental progress while planning for major changes in the medium and long term.
Empower sustainability teams
While airlines are investing in building sustainability teams and implementing a wide range of net zero measures, the success of these efforts will depend on the ability of airlines to empower their sustainability teams with the necessary resources.