The leaders of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) believe that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to achieving net-zero goals in aviation.
During the 68th Assembly of Presidents held in Brunei Darussalam, airline executives convened to discuss the future of aviation under the theme "Jetting into 2050: Future Proofing Asian Aviation," and they passed a series of resolutions focused on sustainability, aviation safety, and the streamlining of regulations.
AAPA said in a statement that airlines are "firmly committed" to reducing their carbon footprint — and with extreme weather events on the rise, airline leaders are only too aware of the risks to aviation safety from climate change.
"With Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in short supply, AAPA believes that a multi-prong strategy in line with the ICAO net zero emissions reduction roadmap is critical to meeting the industry's net zero emissions target," the Kuala-Lumpur headquartered association said.
In light of this, the Assembly passed a resolution calling on Governments, suppliers, air navigation service providers and airlines to deploy all aspects of the ICAO roadmap, namely SAF, breakthrough technology, CORSIA offsets and operational efficiency, in pursuing the net zero emissions by 2050 goal.
"In particular, SAF produced by co-processing sustainable feedstock together with crude fossil fuel in conventional aviation fuel refineries is a cost-effective way to stimulate SAF supply," AAPA said, adding that airlines and fuel suppliers could give impetus to the transition to SAF with co-processed SAF being made available at airports immediately.
"Every new generation of aircraft and engine delivers 15-20% more fuel efficiency. The acceleration of plans for carbon-friendly aircraft and propulsion systems is an effective pathway to the common goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, starting with short-haul aircraft that currently account for some 28% of industry emissions," commented Subhas Menon, director-general of the AAPA.
"With delays in the delivery of new generation aircraft, airlines are extending the use of older equipment. A strategy that prioritises technology alongside SAF is a surer route to carbon neutrality than one over-reliant on SAF," he added.
Aviation safety a top priority
Meanwhile, AAPA noted that aviation safety remains the number one priority of all airlines.
It said that the Assembly adopted a resolution calling for civil aviation authorities, aviation safety agencies and airlines to work closely together to share best practices through data analysis, to mitigate risks such as the loss of control in-flight.
The resolution also called on all stakeholders to support the adoption of safety measures that address the most critical risk categories identified in the Asia Pacific region.
"The Assembly welcomed the results and recommendations of the safety culture survey conducted by the Flight Safety Foundation, as aviation safety is about promoting a proactive safety culture, leveraging data and sharing best practices to improve performance," Menon said.
According to AAPA, the Assembly of Presidents also acknowledged that supply chain disruptions and air space closures are leading to more flight diversions, delays, and cancellations and inhibiting future growth.
Such issues, including component failures and labour shortages, were impinging on schedule reliability.
"Conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and in the Middle East have resulted in airspace closures, exacerbating the situation. Knee-jerk reactions by some governments target only the symptoms of failure while burdening airlines with more cost and complexity," it added.
AAPA said to address this, a third resolution was passed calling on governments to refrain from introducing unilateral measures that would disproportionately inconvenience the travelling public and increase the cost burden on the airline industry, while achieving limited benefits.
"There needed to be greater recognition of the value of aviation to the global economy and closer collaboration amongst governments, industry, and service providers to streamline protocols for international travel," it added.
Meanwhile, airline leaders were optimistic, as regional air travel and cargo growth continue to surpass the global industry’s growth while load factors remain steadfastly strong.
"The outlook for the region's airlines is broadly positive, given the sustained demand for air travel and a strong rebound in trade activity. It is a remarkable recovery on key metrics, considering that air transport ground to an almost complete standstill for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This is also a timely testament to the industry's endurance and longevity as we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the ICAO Chicago Convention in 2024," Menon said.
"By keeping the travelling public and the economies we serve at the core of our strategy, the industry is well positioned to tackle upcoming challenges and pursue sustainable growth in the years ahead," the AAPA chief added.