Air New Zealand has decided to drop its goal of cutting carbon emissions by 2030, citing challenges in getting more efficient planes and sustainable jet fuel. This makes Air New Zealand the first big airline to back away from such a climate commitment.
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New Short-Term Target in the Works
The airline announced that it is now working on a new short-term target and remains dedicated to the aviation industry’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The aviation sector is responsible for about 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Airlines have been trying to reduce this by replacing older planes and using renewable fuel.
Challenges with Fleet Renewal
“In recent months, and more so in the last few weeks, it has become clear that potential delays to our fleet renewal plan pose an additional risk to the target’s achievability,” said Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran.
Ambitious 2022 Emissions Goal
In 2022, Air New Zealand set an ambitious goal to reduce its emissions by almost 29% by 2030, which was significantly higher than the 5% reduction target set by the global aviation industry. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are crucial for reducing emissions, but airlines have struggled to secure enough of it.
High Cost and Limited Supply of SAF
“The price of SAF is higher than traditional fuels, and there isn’t enough capacity to produce it at scale,” said Ellis Taylor from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
IATA’s Net Zero 2050 Commitment
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stated that the industry’s emissions reduction target remains “net zero by 2050” and that airlines are committed to this pledge. However, achieving this target depends on supportive measures from governments.
Need for Technological Advancements
“We need to scale up all solutions, including SAF production and emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon removals,” IATA added.
Aircraft Delivery Delays
Taylor also noted that airlines are facing delays in new aircraft deliveries, with both Boeing and Airbus under-delivering new jets due to supply chain issues.
Boeing’s Ongoing Problems
Boeing has faced several major problems recently. This month, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after the US found the company violated a deal meant to reform it after two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max planes, which killed 346 people. Additionally, a Boeing plane operated by Alaska Airlines had a door panel blow out soon after take-off, forcing the jet to land, further highlighting the company’s ongoing issues.