Traveling: Airlines
Travelers can board flights knowing airlines are making strides towards lowering the environmental impact of each trip. All major airlines have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. U.S. airlines set a goal to make 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) available by 2030 and are investing in research to develop new alternative fuels like hydrogen.
American Airlines
REDUCE
CONSERVE
- The first airline with emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, which includes a commitment to reduce our carbon intensity by 45% by 2035. American is investing $100 million in Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other green energy technologies.
- Used over 2 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2022, doubling its usage year over year, and existing SAF agreements bring the airline’s total commitments to more than 620 million gallons.
- Introduced sustainable amenity kits in partnership with Shinola and D.S. & Durga which include packaging made from biodegradable beeswax paper and toothbrushes made from straw.
Delta Air Lines
REDUCE
CONSERVE
PROTECT
- Launching the Sustainable Skies Lab to accelerate research, design and testing for a more sustainable air travel, including efforts to eliminate single-use plastics onboard and to electrify its ground equipment. Delta is the first carbon-neutral airline on a global basis.
- Industry-leading sustainable fuel agreements with corporate customers support a future of more sustainable business travel. Delta has invested $2 million to partner with Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels to determine the feasibility of producing fuel using wood residue and wood slash.
- Replaced its onboard offerings with sustainable alternatives, which will reduce single-use plastic on flights by approximately 4.9 million pounds per year. Changes include replacing plastic items, reducing plastic in water bottles by 50%, and introducing recycled bedding.
- Supported The Trust for Public Land and the National Monuments Foundation to transform the 16-acre Cook Park in Atlanta into an urban greenscape. The park opened in July 2021.
Etihad Airways
INFORM
REDUCE
CONSERVE
PROTECT
- Leading the development of sustainable aviation fuels and uses first-of-its-kind tech to make sure its aircraft are as fuel-efficient as possible.
- Through the Conscious Choices program, enabling passengers to offset emissions, choose sustainable products and learn about ways to make their everyday lives more sustainable. The Corporate Conscious Choices offers carbon offsetting, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investments and green surcharge fares to corporate partners.
- Signed the world’s first multi-year commercial production contract to integrate contrail management within routine operations. The agreement will expand the scope for SATAVIA technology to prevent warming aircraft contrails and demonstrates the potential to target aviation’s CO2 and non-CO2 effects simultaneously.
- Eliminated 41 single-use plastic products. By the end of 2022, Etihad will have reduced single-use plastics by 80%, with almost 100 plastic products removed from its planes. Etihad uses data to precisely calculate how much water is needed on board, meaning not a drop is wasted and emissions are lower.
- Etihad Airways’ Mangrove Forest is focused on biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection and provides guests the opportunity to plant, adopt and discover mangroves’ important ecological role.
United Airlines
INFORM
REDUCE
- United Airlines’ Eco-Skies Alliance is a first-of-its-kind program that helps leading global corporations reduce their environmental impact and collectively contribute towards the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel.
- The first airline to fly a passenger flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). United has committed to purchase more SAF and 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia.
- With more than $100 million in investments from United and its partners, The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund will support start-ups working on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) research, production and technology.
- Will purchase 15 of Boom Supersonic’s Overture airliners and is the largest airline to invest in zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines through an equity stake in ZeroAvia.
