#Sustainability20: Archer Aviation achieves longest piloted flight with Midnight aircraft & more
Weekly Roundup - 22/08/25
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
iGA Istanbul Airport has cut emissions by 1.4% and raised its 2030 renewable energy target to 90%, with a new solar plant set to make it the world's first major airport fully powered by solar energy by late 2025.
Greenpeace has found that flying remains cheaper than rail on over half of European routes analysed, creating a "perverse incentive" for polluting air travel despite a slightly positive trend in train pricing.
CLIMATE WATCH: Dramatic slowdown in melting of Arctic sea ice surprises scientists - The Guardian
Arctic sea ice decline has stalled since 2005 due to natural ocean current variations, scientists report, but this reprieve is temporary and rapid melting is expected to resume within five to ten years.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Singapore Airlines is designing reusable amenity kits and testing an on-demand model to reduce waste, balancing passenger comfort with sustainability goals across its operations.
London Gatwick has become the first single-runway airport to implement Advanced Mixed Mode technology, dynamically adjusting aircraft spacing to cut delays and reduce annual emissions by 18,800 tonnes.
Lufthansa Technik will certify its AeroSHARK shark-skin drag-reduction technology for Airbus A330s by 2026, following successful retrofits on Boeing 777s to cut fuel use by 1%.
Airports worldwide are advancing sustainability efforts, with San Francisco targeting zero waste, Portland introducing reusable dishware, and Newark recycling cigarette butts to reduce environmental impact.
Leeds Bradford Airport has installed eight fixed electrical ground power units running on renewable energy, cutting carbon emissions and noise by reducing reliance on aircraft auxiliary power.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
IndianOil has signed an MoU with Air India to supply ISCC CORSIA-certified SAF from its Panipat refinery, supporting the carrier's net-zero 2050 goals and India's broader decarbonisation push.
Liquid Sun launches eSAF production pilot – with ABB, Finnair, Fortum, and Finavia - Hydrogen Europe
Finnish company Liquid Sun is launching a pilot to produce eSAF from biogenic CO₂ using low-temperature electrolysis, partnering with Finnair and others to build a synthetic fuel value chain.
LG Chem and Enilive have broken ground on South Korea's first HVO/SAF plant, which will process 400,000 tonnes of bio-feedstock annually using Ecofining technology when it opens in 2027.
Brazil's Petrobras will begin producing SAF by year-end and is studying an ethanol-based plant for 2030, aligning with the country's new biofuels mandate for airlines starting in 2027.
SHEIN and Lufthansa Cargo have signed an MoU to adopt SAF offsetting solutions within six months, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of the retailer's air freight deliveries.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL has achieved its longest piloted flight, covering 55 miles in 31 minutes, a key step toward FAA certification and planned commercial operations in the UAE.
Joby Aviation has completed its first flight between two US airports while integrating with controlled air traffic, demonstrating progress toward certification and future commercial services.
SHZ Advanced Technologies, a French startup, has partnered with JetZero to explore a hydrogen-powered variant of its blended-wing aircraft, aiming to overcome storage challenges that led Airbus to slow its own hydrogen programme.
AMSL Aero has received a A$3m government grant to develop its Vertiia hydrogen-electric VTOL, focusing on refuelling systems and flight testing for regional Australian services.
BETA Technologies has demonstrated its ALIA electric aircraft at Toronto's Billy Bishop airport, where fixed-base operator Stolport has purchased the company's first Canadian charger.
Electra, Surf Air Mobility demonstrate hybrid-electric aircraft - Aerospace Manufacturing and Design
Electra has demonstrated ultra-short takeoff and landing capabilities with its EL2 technology demonstrator, showcasing the potential of its planned nine-passenger EL9 aircraft for 2029.
Skyportz and FlyNow Aviation have partnered to develop integrated vertipad solutions tailored for FlyNow's eCopter, aiming to accelerate urban air mobility infrastructure deployment.
H55 has completed a four-month US tour with its electric Bristell trainer, conducting 192 passenger flights without technical issues to demonstrate the readiness of its propulsion system.