In order to illustrate the ways in which this objective can be achieved, the company is simultaneously implementing a series of actions on two of its flights leaving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle
On April 13, Air France launched “Air France ACT”, a programme presenting its new decarbonisation trajectory aiming for 30 per cent less CO2 emissions per passenger-km by 2030 compared to 2019, i.e. 12 per cent less total emissions. In order to illustrate the ways in which this objective can be achieved, the company is today simultaneously implementing a series of actions on two of its flights leaving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
This project is part of the “Skyteam Sustainable Flight Challenge”, an initiative aimed at stimulating and encouraging innovation by inviting the alliance’s member airlines to operate the most eco-responsible flights possible from 1 to 14 May 2022.
In this way, Air France intends to –
- Measure and illustrate the effectiveness of methods already implemented and proven, such as new generation aircraft, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), eco-piloting, and the use of electric ramp and cargo transport equipment
- Explore new avenues that could be exploited in the future, such as the extensive use of artificial intelligence to optimise flight paths, or the use of autonomous tractors for baggage transport,
- Offering customers more sustainable, local and seasonal catering, limiting food waste by allowing them to choose the in-flight menu before they fly, and limiting single-use plastic.
The operation took place on two commercial flights, one to Montreal operated by an Airbus A350 on May 3, 2022, and the other to Lisbon on May 4, 2022, operated by an Airbus A220. These latest generation aircraft, which are at the heart of Air France’s fleet renewal strategy, consume 20 to 25per cent less fuel than previous generation aircraft. Their noise footprint is reduced by a third. By 2030, these aircraft will account for 70per cent of the Air France fleet, compared with 7per cent today, thanks to an investment of one billion euros per year between now and 2025.
“Air France is determined to explore all the avenues of innovation used by the other airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, which share its ambition to make air transport compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.”
— Vincent Etchebehere, VP Sustainability and new mobilities at Air France
The flight to Montreal was fuelled with 16per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the flight to Lisbon with 30per cent SAF, compared with 1per cent currently used on flights leaving from France under the current regulations. These non-fossil fuels are produced from biomass such as used cooking oil. They, therefore, do not compete with the food chain and allow an average reduction of 80per cent in CO2 emissions compared to conventional fuel over their entire life cycle. To take the example of used vegetable oils, this means taking into account the capture of CO2 during the growth of the plant, its first life as cooking oil, its recycling and its use as aviation fuel.
On the ground and on board, the pilots implemented eco-piloting techniques, such as taxiing on a single engine on the ground and optimising trajectories in real time, in coordination with air traffic control.
Vincent Etchebehere, VP Sustainability and new mobilities at Air France said: “After the announcement of our new science-based CO2 emission reduction targets, it was important for us to illustrate in concrete terms how our sector must transform itself to respond to the climate emergency. On two flights, to Montreal and Lisbon, we have involved our partners and customers in a process aimed at proving the performance of the exisiting procedures, and at coming up with new solutions to take our efforts to reduce our emissions one step further. Our environmental transition is demanding and complex, but it is not an option.
Air France is determined to explore all the avenues of innovation used by the other airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, which share its ambition to make air transport compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.”
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