Etihad Airways' sustainability initiatives cut carbon emissions by 56%


Alvin R Cabral
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways slashed its carbon emissions by 56 per cent between 2018 and 2021 as it successfully implemented programmes aimed at establishing a more sustainable business model.

The airline's carbon footprint was at 4,310,592 tonnes last year compared with 9,828,970 tonnes three years earlier, according the company's Sustainability Report 2020-2021 released on Friday.

The airline said the reduction in emissions was due in part to reduced operations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it highlighted the success of its sustainable initiatives, including the Boeing Greenliner and the Airbus A350, which is being called the Sustainable50.

On an annual basis from 2018, Etihad's carbon emissions decreased by about 7 per cent in 2019 and 53 per cent in 2020. It rose marginally – 1 per cent – in 2021, as the airline's operations normalised after pandemic restrictions began to ease.

The steps being taken to address sustainability challenges need to be "bold" and "decisive", said Tony Douglas, group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group.

"There is no other way forward. That is why we have been insistent that we continue to focus on the question as a long-term strategic priority for our business," he said.

Similar to the car industry, the aviation sector is considering hybrid, electric or hydrogen aircraft technologies to promote and achieve sustainable business models. But while these up-and-coming modes of air transport are still awaited, the industry is looking at alternatives to achieve more sustainable operations today.

European plane maker Airbus last month flew the first A380 powered by 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel, which the industry sees as a way of making flying more environmentally friendly before the introduction of hybrid, electric or hydrogen aircraft.

Airlines are also facing pressure from environmental groups to lower their carbon footprint and build back greener operations after the pandemic.

At the International Air Transport Association's annual general meeting last October, airlines pledged net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050, bringing the air transport industry in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Etihad had already committed to its carbon emission reduction goals almost two years before the Iata pledge.

The airline's Greenliner programme started in 2019 and Etihad and US industry majors Boeing and General Electric have operated several flights on the 787 Dreamliner jet focusing on plastic-free in-flight products, optimised airspace management, flight deck tools for more eco-friendly take-offs, noise reduction and the use of sustainable aviation fuel.

Etihad said it is "well on its way" to fulfilling its pledge to reduce single-use plastics by 80 per cent by this year. The airline is using its sustainable flights to measure the impact and make long-term changes to its operations.

The Sustainable50 is an Airbus A350-1000 jet that is expected to enter service this quarter, Etihad said.

The lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft from the manufacturer has an all-new design. Mr Douglas last month described it as a "world-beating product".

There is no other way forward. That is why we have been insistent that we continue to focus on the question as a long-term strategic priority for our business
Tony Douglas,
group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group

"We’re working with industry leaders to guarantee we keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible," Etihad said on its website.

Etihad's report set out a "clear and ambitious" path forward, and the airline's programmes are set in a co-ordinated manner in a bid to achieve 20 per cent and 50 per cent reductions in emissions by 2025 and 2035, respectively – and a goal of ultimately reaching net zero by 2050.

During the 2020-2021 period, Etihad also launched the world’s most comprehensive industry-wide testing and innovation programme, and became the first airline to secure commercial financing based on verified compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.

It was also able to secure $1.2 billion in the first sustainability linked loan tied to environmental, social and governance targets in global aviation, as well as launch the first aircraft carbon offset programme in the Middle East.

Etihad is also backing the UAE's participation in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, an initiative from the International Civil Aviation Organisation that aims to stabilise international civil aviation net carbon emissions.

On Friday, Etihad started a week-long research and testing programme on more than 30 flights to reduce carbon emissions. The programme, which coincided with Earth Day, will test operational efficiencies, technology and procedures on more than 20 commercial flights across Etihad’s network, the airline said.

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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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While you're here
Dr Graham's three goals

Short term

Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines


Intermediate term

Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations


Long term

A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness  

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06

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4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06

5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
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Always use only regulated platforms

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

West Asia Premiership

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ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph 
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Updated: April 22, 2022, 2:25 PM`