The group aims to become the first global airline alliance to commit to a common carbon neutrality goal
The Oneworld Alliance has outlined its plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
First announced in September 2020, the group’s 14 member airlines plan to reach the target through various initiatives including fleet modernisation, improvements in operational efficiencies, advancing the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and carbon offsets and removals.
Several Oneworld members have already committed to reducing emissions such as American Airlines setting an intermediate, science-based target for reducing emissions by 2035, IAG planning to power 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030 and Cathay Pacific pledging to cut ground emissions by 32% of 2018 figures by 2030 through energy-saving measures and use of renewable energy.
Akbar Al Baker, Oneworld Alliance chairman and Qatar Airways Group CEO, said: “It’s an honour to reaffirm our commitment and leadership to tackle climate change, even as we continue to navigate through the complexities of the pandemic. We need a strong commitment to improve airspace inefficiency, incentivise the commercial use of recognised sustainable aviation fuels and accelerate the development of new propulsion and airframe technologies.”
Member airlines are collaborating on several environment and sustainability initiatives, through the Oneworld Environment and Sustainability Board chaired by Jonathon Counsell, group head of sustainability at IAG (parent of group airlines British Airways and Iberia), with details on these initiatives due in a future update.
Rob Gurney, Oneworld CEO added: “The carbon roadmap that we have released today demonstrates our alliance’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Despite the uncertainty faced by the industry, we remain focused on playing our part in reducing emissions. We are thankful to our member airlines for their support and to IAG for their leadership in this important collaboration and look forward to our continuing partnership in advancing sustainability.”
