Sustainable aviation today and tomorrow

A4E airlines are determined to address the climate challenge that faces all of mankind. By minimizing our environmental impact we can contribute to a more sustainable European economy as envisioned in the European Green Deal.

Europe’s airlines have committed to decarbonize air transport and accelerate their efforts to make Europe the world’s first carbon neutral continent by 2050 through the reduction of CO2 emissions in absolute terms, and through CO2 mitigation. Acknowledging its responsibilities despite the COVID-19 crisis, in 2021 the EU aviation sector recently published its “Destination 2050 — A route to net zero European aviation” roadmap showing a clear pathway to reaching net zero CO2 emissions for intra-European and departing flights by 2050. It demonstrates that the target is achievable, but it is not a guarantee of success. It is closely dependent on the capacity of national policy-makers of Europe’s national governments, the EU and ICAO to back the aviation sector’s decarbonisation plans with regulatory, investment and fiscal incentives, whilst ensuring that this radical transformation does not reduce connectivity or make air travel less affordable.

There is no panacea for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the solutions will vary with geography, economics, and demand. The Destination 2050 roadmap shows a decarbonisation pathway that combines new technologies, improved operations, sustainable aviation fuels and smart economic measures in achieving net zero CO2 emissions from European aviation by 2050.

A4E members want to be part of the fight against climate change. It is a challenge we face head-on, and one we will only achieve through integrated, cross-sector efforts across policy fields: transport, climate, energy and research. The solution is not to fly less, but to fly more efficiently and more sustainably. A4E airlines look forward to this future.