#Sustainability20: Air New Zealand quadruples SAF uplift in FY25 & more
Weekly round-up - 20/12/24
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry Updates
The EU has introduced a voluntary Flight Emissions Label from July 2025, offering standardised methodology for calculating flight emissions, to help passengers make environmentally conscious travel choices through transparent carbon data.
According to the World Economic Forum, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 across hard-to-abate sectors will require $30 trillion in investment, with 43% from industries and 57% from ecosystem infrastructure development.
jetBlue's TrueBlue members can earn Mosaic status tiles by contributing $100 towards SAF through the airline’s Chooose partnership.
Japan Airlines is investing in Heirloom Carbon Technologies for direct air capture CO2 removal to diversify its approach to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The UK has relaunched the Jet Zero Council as the Jet Zero Taskforce, focusing on SAF development. The new mandate requires 22% sustainable fuel by 2040.
CLIMATE WATCH: Biden, Headed to the Exit, Sets an Aggressive Climate Goal for the U.S. - The New York Times
US President Joe Biden has announced an ambitious climate goal targeting 61% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2035, building upon the previous 50% reduction commitment for 2030.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
DHL completed its first autonomous vehicle trial at Heathrow, covering 1,300km in 14 days, seeking to automate baggage transfer operations.
Purdue researchers have developed a solar-powered runway safety system using ADS-B data and computer vision to enhance airport safety through automated light controls.
JFK Terminal 6 is seeking all-electric ground support equipment proposals for $4.6 billion development to support the airport's sustainability goals before its 2026 opening.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Air New Zealand has recently secured 30 million litres of SAF from Neste, achieving 1.6% of the total fuel supply for FY25.
EASA has confirmed that Europe can meet its SAF mandate through 2030 when a 6% blend is required, but has warned about synthetic fuel targets.
Terra Mater has partnered with Petrom to produce SAF using proprietary technology at North Sea Port, strengthening Brazilian-Belgian trade relations.
Enilive and easyJet signed an agreement for SAF supply at Milan Malpensa Airport, with potential expansion to other Italian airports.
Samsung E&A is entering the SAF market with a $955 million Malaysian biorefinery contract, expected to process 650,000 tonnes of raw materials annually.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
Stralis Aircraft completed Southern Hemisphere's first hydrogen-electric propeller test at Brisbane Airport.
SkyDrive and Osaka Metro have announced eVTOL "Diamond Routes" connecting four key city locations, with plans to launch services by around 2028.
UK's first vertiport testbed broke ground at Bicester Motion, featuring a 160m² passenger terminal for eVTOL operations testing.
Nimbus Aerospace successfully tested an electric business jet demonstrator, targeting a 1,100-mile range with a 6-8 passenger capacity.
Airline UrbanLink Air Mobility diversifies electric aircraft orders across multiple manufacturers, hedging against delivery risks while pursuing early market entry.
The Chinese auto giant GAC Group has launched Govy, an eVTOL brand, and unveiled the AirJet flying car with a composite-wing design for vertical takeoff and a 200-kilometre range.
Archer Aviation, with support from Stellantis, has completed its 400,000ft² eVTOL manufacturing facility in Georgia, set to produce its Midnight aircraft starting in early 2025.
