Etihad reports 26% drop in CO2 emissions per RTK in 2022

UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has published its annual sustainability report, detailing the company’s commitment to sustainability and its progress towards its sustainability goals.

In 2022, the airline achieved a 26 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions per revenue tonne kilometre (RTK) to 482g compared to the 2019 baseline.

Etihad’s sustainability strategy is based on principles of achieving emissions reductions through in-sector measures, aligning with industry voluntary roadmaps and frameworks, collaborating with UAE industrial ecosystems, remaining transparent and proactive about sustainability issues, and continually developing a strategic roadmap for targets.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and ensuring the sustainability of our operations.

“Our sustainability strategy is built on a foundation of collaboration, transparency, and innovation, and we will continue to work with our partners, industry peers, and government agencies to drive positive change and lead the way towards a greener future for aviation.”

Etihad sustainability performance highlights

• Signed the Neste Airline Collaboration Agreement to facilitate cooperation between corporate organisations looking to offset their Scope 3 emissions using SAF credits.
• Was the first foreign airline to receive SAF supply in Japan, in partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Neste MY Sustainable Fuel. The flight, operated in Q4 2022, was the first delivery of c.50,000USG of Neste-produced fuel, reducing approximately 75 tCO2 at a 39.66 per cent blend.
• Continued to work with key UAE stakeholders such as ADNOC, Masdar and Tadweer to develop SAF production capability in the UAE
• Signed an MoU with World Energy, establishing a long-term strategic partnership to decarbonise flights through in-sector emissions reductions.
• Etihad in partnership with World Energy operated the first net-zero flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Book & Claim offsetting CO2 emissions of 216 metric tonnes through sustainable aviation fuel credits.
• Continued efforts to support wildlife, conservation and protection of biodiversity and animal welfare
• Planted 68,916 mangrove trees as part of Etihad Mangroves Forest project

In other news, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their interline agreement and provide travellers additional itinerary options when visiting the UAE.

This first-of-its-kind agreement between the two UAE carriers aims to capitalise on opportunities to boost tourism to the UAE from key source markets by enabling visitors to experience more than one destination in a single itinerary.

Emirates also recently committed $200m to fund research and development (R&D) projects focussed on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.