American Airlines is named the 2023 Eco-Airline of the Year
Air traffic is increasing year after year and it’s no secret that carbon emissions from aircraft are making a significant contribution to climate change. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that in the United States, commercial airplanes and business jets contribute 10% of U.S. transportation emissions, and globally, aviation contributes 4% to human-induced global warming. To minimize these negative contributions as much as possible, airlines are making great efforts, some more than others.
If you want to help airlines’ efforst to minimize aviation’s effect on global warming, flying with American Airlines is certainly a favorable decision, as it has been named the 2023 Eco-Airline of the Year by Air Transport World (ATW). ATW is a media publication covering the global air transport industry, under its parent company Aviation Week Network Group. The award was given to American Airlines after a review by editors and analysts from ATW, Aviation Week, CAPA, and Routes, some of the largest aviation publications.
What advantaged American Airlines
American Airlines has an ambitious strategy to minimize environmental impacts, and to make the company’s operations as environmentally sustainable as possible,so by 2035 they aim to reduce carbon intensity by 45% compared to 2019.
Efforts to renew their fleet
Fleet renewal is essential for lower fuel consumption, as new aircraft are becoming more and more fuel efficient. American Airlines supports this idea with large orders of Airbus A321XLRs, Boeing 737MAXs, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The efforts of this renewal are already making their presence felt as American Airlines fleet has improved its fuel efficiency by 10% since 2013, saving 1.9 billion gallons of fuel and preventing the emission of 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. What’s more, as of today, half of the American fleet is less than 10 years old.
Smart gating
Smart Gating is an automated process that uses facial recognition to verify the passport and identity of travelers at airports. It prevents airport congestion and the time passengers spend in airports. According to American Airlines, this innovation has maximized fuel efficiency, saving an estimated 1.4 million gallons of fuel per year. It is currently in use at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and Miami International Airport.
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) consumption
American Airlines is one of the largest consumers of SAF in the industry, using 2 million gallons of SAF in 2022 and doubling its usage year over year. The airline has agreements with Gevo, Neste, and Aemetis for SAF, bringing total low-carbon fuel commitments to more than 620 million gallons.
American Airlines’ future vision
Although stopping carbon emissions is not so simple, we see day by day the improvements that the aviation industry is making, always discovering opportunities and solutions to minimize CO2 consumption. American Airlines is no exception, and its vision for the future shows its desire and commitment to becoming a more sustainable airline. American CEO, Robert Isom shared the company’s vision for the award and the future of sustainability:
“American is actively incorporating sustainability at every level of our business, from the fuel we buy to the food we serve our customers. And our all-the-above approach is just getting started. As Eco-Airline of the Year, we will continue to lead the industry as an innovator in this space and affirm our unyielding commitment to build an American Airlines that will thrive forever.”
Sources: American Airlines Newsroom
