Travelling in the right direction
The aviation industry is innovating to reduce emissions. Some changes, like the introduction of ultra-modern planes, make a difference right away. Others are less visible, but soon add up to make a big impact. Together, these changes mean that we’re on track to meet bold targets to cut our emissions in half by 2050. Scroll to discover what we’re doing.
Flying better
From the revolutionary new materials used in modern planes, to the development of paperless cockpits, relentless innovation means that even the largest aircraft are lighter than ever. At the same time, continual design improvements – ranging from engines that are more efficient, to wingtip devices that make planes more aerodynamic – are helping to ensure fewer CO2 emissions per flight.
Discover how advances in plane design are helping aviation to become greener ›
Operating smarter
We’re looking at every part of our industry to improve operations, both on the ground and in the air. Advances in air traffic control and flight routing are helping to shorten our flights and reduce unnecessary fuel burn, while more and more airports are producing their power from carbon-neutral sources and introducing zero emissions vehicles.
See the operational changes we’re making to reduce emissions ›
Capping our emissions
A big step towards cutting our emissions in half by 2050 is to achieve carbon-neutral growth. To achieve this, we’re combining advances in plane design with the purchase of carbon offsets, which pays for emissions reductions and compensates for the impact that aviation has on the environment.
See how we’re ensuring international flight emissions don’t increase from today’s levels ›
Using sustainable fuels
We’ve found a viable alternative to traditional aviation fuel (kerosene). Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can be made from everyday waste (including cooking oils, food compost, and household waste) and sustainable oil crops that maintain an ecological balance. This may sound like science-fiction, but they’re already in use today, and ultimately they have the potential to reduce emissions by 80% or more. Hundreds of thousands of SAF flights are taking off each year, but we still have work to do.
