IAG airlines to power 10 per cent of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030

• It will allow to cut its annual emissions by two million tonnes by 2030. This equates to removing one million cars from Europe’s roads each year
• The Group will purchase one million tonnes of sustainable jet fuel per year
• IAG was the first airline group worldwide to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050
• It is also one of the 10 global companies recognised by the UN for their ambitious carbon targets

International Airlines Group (IAG) has become the first European airline group to commit to powering 10 per cent of the flights of its companies, Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level, with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.

The Group will purchase one million tonnes of sustainable jet fuel per year enabling it to cut its annual emissions by two million tonnes by 2030. This equates to removing one million cars from Europe’s roads each year.

In addition, IAG will become the first airline group worldwide to extend its net zero commitment to its supply chain. The Group will be working with its suppliers to enable them to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 for the products and services they provide to IAG.

Luis Gallego, IAG´s chief executive, said: “For more than a decade, IAG has led the airline industry’s actions to reduce its carbon footprint. It’s clearly challenging to transition to a low carbon business model but, despite the current pandemic, we remain resolute in our climate commitments.

“Government support is critical to meet this target by attracting investment to construct sustainable aviation fuel plants that will deliver enough supply for the airline industry, creating highly valued green jobs and economic growth at global scale”.

IAG is investing US$400 million in the development of sustainable aviation fuel in the next 20 years. The Group is partnering with sustainable aviation fuel developers, LanzaJet and Velocys. This includes Europe’s first household waste-to-jet fuel plant in the UK which will start operations in 2025. 

IAG was the first airline group worldwide to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and is one of the 10 global companies recognised by the UN for their ambitious carbon targets.

Iberia achieve a 15% reduction of emissions per passenger

Iberia is committed to reaching a zero net emissions target by 2050, and has begun the process with the incorporation of more efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo and A350, used on short/medium and long-haul flights, respectively, and which are between 15% and 25% more fuel-efficient than earlier aircraft of similar capacity.

The use of more efficient aircraft along with other measures to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions helped Iberia achieve a 15% reduction of emissions per passenger between 2010 and 2019. It aims to bring this down by another 5% by 2025.

The pandemic hastened the retiring of Iberia’s Airbus A340/600s, which left the fleet in August, 2020. Today nearly 50 of the Spanish airline’s flights are made in the efficient Airbus A320neos and A350s.