ETIHAD AIRWAYS

Sustainability Overview

Etihad Airways is serious about sustainability and wants the world to know. Over the last couple of years, Etihad has taken the task of going green with sincerity, exploring new technologies and future paradigms of net-zero flying.

For example, in October 2021, Etihad ran a test flight (EY20) from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi with 72% reduced carbon emissions, compared to an equivalent 2019 flight. In 2022, the airline went even further. In October, they operated a flight from Tokyo to Abu Dhabi using a 40% blend of SAF supplied by ITOCHU Corporation and NESTE. It became not only the first international airline to procure SAF in Japan but also represented the first delivery of 50,000 gallons of SAF, entirely produced in Japan, which will be used to fuel aircraft in the near future. (The airline has also partnered with World Energy to make carbon-neutral flying possible.)

On 13 November, Etihad also flew their “first net zero carbon flight” from Washington to Sharm-El-Sheik for COP27, claiming 10,000kms of emission-free flight. Recently, the airline was also recognised as Environmental Airline of the Year for 2022 in the Airline Excellence Awards.

Meet The Changemaker

If you’re marvelling at the rapid clip of sustainability initiatives at Etihad, Mariam Musallam AlQubaisi, Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence at Etihad Airways is the person to congratulate. While sustainability initiatives enjoy support right from the top, Mariam’s single-minded focus on going green is a key driver at Etihad.

Mariam is a self-motivated Emirati with a multidisciplinary background in renewable and nuclear energy, natural resource management, change management, and innovation. At Etihad, she supports a pro-sustainability transformation within the organisation, making Abu Dhabi’s airline a thought leader in sustainable aviation focused on cleaner fuels, operational efficiency and carbon offsets. She is also an active sustainability expert serving task forces within the GCAA, IATA and ICAO.

She is quick to tout Etihad’s sustainability transition as their greatest achievement.

“Supporting sustainability was an option, today it is a must! Sustainability has grown into a core pillar in our corporate strategy, and our CEO meets with us bi-weekly solely to discuss how we can make Etihad and the industry greener and cleaner”, she says.

According to Mariam, this transition has given Etihad a pro-sustainability persona underpinned by the airline’s decarbonisation, waste management, and biodiversity protection efforts.

Opportunities And Challenges

Mariam believes that technological research and regulatory support offer the greatest opportunities for the industry. In the UAE, she says, there is an excellent support system as the country aspires to become a global sustainability champion. “With its national commitment to net-zero by 2050, the UAE has engaged key industrial, academic and regulatory stakeholders in creating a roadmap for net-zero, one that does not compromise the livelihood of the industry”, she points out.

Moving forward on sustainability will require effort but Mariam believes mainly education and collaboration will be the key differentiators for those who succeed. “We need to support the global effort to educate people and stakeholders about the importance of this sustainability transition, and of course we need to work and collaborate with industry, academia and government to see it through”, she says.

As far as decarbonisation is concerned, Mariam knows there is no quick fix or single solution. She admits that when she first joined the airline, she was naive to believe that decarbonisation can only be achieved through SAF. “I was wrong”, she now says.

“Decarbonisation needs a multi-faceted and interactive approach, characterised by a number of interventions, not limited to SAF.”

She points to the 2021 Sustainable Flight as a testament to this approach. “We included SAF, weight reduction on aircraft, route optimisation and contrail management, allowing us to reduce over 70% of emissions compared to a regular flight.”

Source: Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has launched its sustainability-focused corporate rewards programme "Corporate Conscious Choices" that focuses on organizations committed to reducing emissions and operating sustainably, with rewards and incentives that support pro-environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

Looking Ahead

Under Mariam’s leadership, Etihad has taken an aggressive approach to communicating its sustainability efforts. “We have a number of outlets – our verified annual report and our emissions/ efforts reporting to local and international organisations. We are happy to be one of the few carriers that are stage 2 certified under IATA’s environmental assessment programme which ensures that a proper and transparent sustainability management system is in place,” she says.

Etihad has also pledged to reach a 20% reduction in emissions intensity by

2025, and by 2035, to have cut 2019 net emissions by 50%. The airline is bullish on leading the development of sustainable aviation fuels, and is investing in technology to make sure their aircraft are as fuel-efficient as possible.

The airline admits that climate change isn’t something they can take on alone. They have also invested in key programmers with industry leaders – such as the Etihad Greenliner and Sustainable50. Read their sustainability report for more.

Source: Etihad Airways

On 23 October 2021, Etihad Airways operated its most sustainable flight ever, leveraging the learnings and efficiencies developed over the last two years of its comprehensive sustainability programme

More needs to be done at the European and national levels to incentivise the production of SAF. The additional production of SAF and greater availability of raw materials are needed to support mechanisms that can cover additional costs for products brought to market.

Thomas Fowler Director of Sustainability and Finance at Ryanair