CJMY
AirAsia, a leading airline in Southeast Asia, took a significant step towards driving industry engagement and collaboration by organising its inaugural Sustainability Day.
Themed ‘Doing More with Less,’ the event aimed to explore AirAsia’s strategies for decarbonisation and discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in implementing sustainable practices.
Industry experts, including technical heads and subject matter specialists from AirAsia, delved into topics such as ESG considerations, greener biofuels, ESG financing, talent management, and the airline’s net zero plan.
AirAsia’s commitment to decarbonisation
During the event, Capital A Chief Sustainability Officer Yap Mun Ching emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in achieving the goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Yap highlighted the four pathways to decarbonisation, including fleet upgrades, green operating procedures, biofuel adoption, and offsetting remaining emissions.
AirAsia’s primary focus lies in upgrading its fleet to the fuel-efficient A321neo aircraft, known for its exceptional performance in terms of fuel consumption.
The airline also priorities expanding its fuel-efficiency program, which has contributed to its industry-leading low cost and emissions per seat.
AirAsia incorporating ESG and sustainable practices
AirAsia’s fleet and flight operations leads discussed how the airline integrates ESG considerations into the deployment and utilisation of its growing fleet.
With 362 new A321neo aircraft on order, to be delivered between 2024 and 2035, AirAsia is committed to maximising fuel efficiency and minimising CO2 emissions.
The airline has already achieved substantial savings in fuel consumption and emissions since 2015. Additionally, AirAsia is actively exploring the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its fuel mix by 2025.
The event also addressed the role of multiple stakeholders in promoting the adoption of aviation biofuels and explored options for ESG financing.
Insights were shared by industry experts, including Christoph Behrendt-Rieken, Lead SAF Expert of the EU-Southeast Asia Cooperation on Mitigating Climate Change Impact from Civil Aviation (EU-SEA CCCA CORSIA) Project, and Teo Hui Ling, an aviation legal specialist.
The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration and financial support in driving sustainability initiatives within the aviation industry.
AirAsia’s inaugural Sustainability Day provided a platform for meaningful discussions on aviation sustainability.
By incorporating robust ESG practices into their strategic priorities, AirAsia aims to recover stronger and better as it rebuilds its business post-pandemic.
The airline also launched its Guide to Aviation Sustainability, a handbook that demystifies common concepts associated with aviation sustainability, highlighting AirAsia’s own implementation of sustainable measures.
Admin
