Watch: How airlines can build sustainability into their strategy
Airlines must make sustainability an integral part of their business strategies to address growing concerns by investors and employees about their climate impact.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is scaling rapidly, from less than 0.1% of global jet fuel consumption just a couple of years ago to an expected 10% in 2030 鈥 and as much as 65% by 2050.
How airlines can build sustainability into their strategy
Key takeaways
Delta Air Lines is leading the charge in commercial aviation sustainability. In 2012, the carrier committed to capping its emissions at that year鈥檚 level. It followed that up in 2020 with a pledge to be carbon neutral.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is scaling rapidly, from less than 0.1% of global jet fuel consumption just a couple of years ago to an expected 10% in 2030 鈥 and as much as 65% by 2050.
鈥淚nvestors are looking at companies and saying, 鈥榊ou have a significant risk because of the climate transition that's in front of you. I want to know, in a transparent way, what is that risk? How much quantifiably is that going to impact your business? What is your plan for it?鈥 Investors are saying, 鈥業 don't know where to invest anymore because I don't know who's going to make it or not make it through this transition.鈥,鈥 DeLuca said in an interview with Joel Makower, Editor of Greenbiz.com.
鈥淐oming out of the pandemic, as we're starting to rebuild our workforce and hiring new people, we've got that next generation coming that cares about the environment. Not to mention that everyone else has just been through this profound impact from a pandemic that has caused everyone to step back and say, "What am I doing with my life? And what do I really care about?",鈥 DeLuca said.
鈥淚nvestors are looking at companies and saying, 鈥榊ou have a significant risk because of the climate transition that's in front of you. I want to know, in a transparent way, what is that risk? How much quantifiably is that going to impact your business? What is your plan for it?鈥 Investors are saying, 鈥業 don't know where to invest anymore because I don't know who's going to make it or not make it through this transition.鈥,鈥 DeLuca said in an interview with Joel Makower, Editor of Greenbiz.com.
鈥淐oming out of the pandemic, as we're starting to rebuild our workforce and hiring new people, we've got that next generation coming that cares about the environment. Not to mention that everyone else has just been through this profound impact from a pandemic that has caused everyone to step back and say, 鈥榃hat am I doing with my life? And what do I really care about?鈥,鈥 DeLuca said.
Pioneering sustainability in commercial aviation
Delta has been leading the charge. In 2012, the carrier, based in Atlanta, Georgia, committed to capping its emissions at that year鈥檚 level. It followed that up in 2020 with a pledge to be carbon neutral. It has moved eagerly to secure supplies of sustainable aviation fuel, increased the use of carbon offsets, partnered with the Science Based Targets initiative that helps companies set emissions goals, and joined the LEAF Coalition to address deforestation.
When the pandemic grounded aviation fleets around the world, Delta seized the opportunity to accelerate the retirement of older jets, pulling 200 aircraft out of service while buying new models that have 20-25% better fuel efficiency, DeLuca said.
Amelia DeLuca, Vice President of Sustainability for Delta Air Lines鈥淲e're laser-focused on the 98 per cent of the emissions that come from jet fuel. That is really where the challenge lies for our industry.鈥
Sustainable aviation fuel 鈥 which can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% because it can be made from biological sources like food waste or inedible crops rather than extracted from the ground 鈥 is scaling rapidly, from less than 0.1% of global jet fuel consumption just a couple of years ago, to an expected 10% in 2030 and as much as 65% by 2050, DeLuca said.
Investing in the future
Looking farther ahead, DeLuca said Delta is keen to partner on promising technologies like aircraft powered by electricity or hydrogen, as well as pulling carbon directly out of the air and storing it underground or recycling it into synthetic fuels.
鈥淲here Delta will become more involved going forward is going to be on the research and development and the investing to make sure that we are able to scale clean technology for our industry in the future,鈥 DeLuca said. 鈥淭hose are the things that will be coming in the second part of our journey to net zero. But all of them are within reason to scale, and most models have each one of them playing a part as we go forward.鈥
Sustainability extends beyond climate to broader issues of social equality and being a force for good, DeLuca said. She added that for aviation, that means not only protecting habitats and biodiversity but ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of aviation for generations to come.
Amelia DeLuca, Vice President of Sustainability for Delta Air Lines鈥淚f you really step back, the airline industry is built upon trust with our consumers and purpose. We aren't just flying airplanes; we connect people to people, people to places, people to new opportunities. And so there's a responsibility that comes with what we do every day,鈥
鈥淩ight now, we are all faced with this looming crisis, this threat. We hear it every day in the news; our kids talk to us about it, our neighbours talk to us about it,鈥 DeLuca said. 鈥淢y number one most important thing is that no traveller ever has to choose between seeing the world and saving the world.
Amelia DeLuca, Delta Air Lines
Amelia DeLuca is the Vice President of Sustainability at Delta Air Lines, where she is responsible for overseeing the carrier鈥檚 long-term sustainability strategy and investments. Throughout her 15-year career with Delta, she has held various global sales, revenue management and network planning positions. Amelia graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and has her M.B.A. from the University of Amsterdam.
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