Airbus helps airlines further improve their environmental performance

Airbus has launched the Sustainable Aviation Engagement Programme, a

long-term partnership programme set up to help airlines reduce their
environmental footprint through a tailored offering of services and expertise.
Based on four pillars (aircraft technology, aircraft operations, Air Traffic
Management -ATM- and sustainable aviation fuels), the programme enables
airlines to minimise their environmental impact, by harnessing the full potential
of Airbus latest generation, fuel efficient aircraft to minimise fuel burn and
noise in their operations. Airbus will accompany each airline throughout the
deployment of the programme.
The Sustainable Aviation Engagement Programme is currently in a phase of
developing pilot projects, during which Airbus will work closely with Cathay
Pacific, British Airways and KLM. The feedback and learning from these three
pilot projects will be taken on board before the programme is extended to
operators worldwide from 2016.
We are very pleased to see the Sustainable Aviation Engagement programme
taking shape with world leading airlines as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and
KLM, said Jean-Luc Taupiac, Airbus Head of Environment. By working closely
with our customers and building long-term partnerships we offer them tailored
solutions and expertise to meet their environmental objectives. The benefits
unfolded with the Perfect Flight, a winning combination of using latest aircraft
technology, best aircraft operations, optimized Air Traffic Management and
sustainable aviation fuels, really unlocks the full potential to minimize the
environmental footprint.
Jonathon Counsell, British Airways Head of Environment said:
We really welcome the opportunity to work closely with Airbus to demonstrate
the step change in environmental performance of the next generation of
aircraft delivering significantly lower noise and carbon emissions
Dr. Mark Watson, Head of Environmental Affairs, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
said:
As a leading airline that has set ambitious targets to address its environmental
impacts and integrate sustainability into all aspects of its business, Cathay
Pacific seeks to work with strategic partners that understand the significance of
the challenges posed by future growth. Our engagement with Airbus is a key
opportunity to work together to draw upon the potential that advanced
aerospace technology offers in this regard, including reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and noise. The learning derived from the programme will enable us
to drive future improvements within our business and contribute to reducing
the industrys overall environmental footprint.
Eileen van den Tweel, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Manager Innovation said:

KLM is the leading airline in the development of a market for sustainable

biofuel. In 2014 KLM launched a series of biofuel flights to Aruba and Bonaire
that lasted six months, operating an A330-200. We worked intensively with
Airbus during the entire project, to research the engine performance during the
biofuel flights. Airbus sustainable aviation engagement program is a logical
next step in this cooperation, enabling us to expand our relationship to other
areas than biofuel. Together with Air France, KLM has been ranked the most
sustainable airline in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for ten consecutive
years, and our ambition is to keep this leading position. Cooperation with
Airbus and other partners in our supply chain is very important
Airbus works constantly to mitigate its environmental impact and reduce not
only CO2 emissions, but other emissions linked to climate change and air
quality, as well as noise, through its innovative technologies and cross-industry
partnerships. New technologies are constantly in development and Airbus
invests around two billion Euros per year in R&D to develop incremental
innovations that will further enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of all
our aircraft.
Notes to the editor
(*) Perfect Flights
The Perfect Flight is a commercial flight combining all best practices currently
available: operating fuel-efficient aircraft, using sustainable fuels and
implementing a truly streamlined Air Traffic Management (ATM) system
alongside optimised ground and flight operations.
In June 2012, Airbus and Air Canada performed North Americas first Perfect
Flight over international borders, cutting CO2 emissions by more than 40
percent compared to a regular flight. The commercial flight on an Airbus A319
aircraft from Toronto, Canada to Mexico City combined the use of a modern
aircraft, powered by sustainable jet fuels (a 50/50 blend of biofuel made of
used cooking oil), guided by streamlined Air Traffic Management procedures
and facilitated through best practice operations (single-engine taxiing, light
weight cabin equipment etc..)
In October 2011 Airbus and Air-France completed the first Perfect Flight. The
flight from Toulouse to Paris using an Airbus A321 demonstrated the cutting in
half of CO2 emitted compared to a regular flight.
Airbus is convinced that scaling-up Perfect Flights today can significantly
contribute to shrink the environmental footprint of an aircrafts flight operations
to a minimum.

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