News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, has once again secured the title of Environmental Airline of the Year for 2023 in the prestigious Airline Ratings awards, marking its second consecutive win. The awards, which honor excellence in the aviation industry, recognized Etihad for its unwavering commitment to sustainable aviation through innovation and collaborative efforts.
In addition to this accolade, Etihad claimed the third spot in the ‘Top 10 Airlines’ category, which evaluates airlines based on comfort, innovation, value, and safety across Economy, Business, and First Class.
Etihad’s sustainability strategy revolves around reducing emissions through various measures within the aviation sector, aligning with industry standards, collaborating with UAE industrial ecosystems, and maintaining transparency regarding sustainability issues.
In their latest sustainability report released in May 2023, Etihad proudly reported a remarkable 26% reduction in CO2 emissions per Revenue Tonne Kilometre (RTK). This achievement is attributed to initiatives such as the Greenliner program, utilizing Boeing 787 Dreamliners for sustainability testing, and the Sustainable50 A350-1000.
Antonoaldo Neves, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, expressed his pride in the 26% CO2 reduction and praised the team’s dedication. He emphasized that their efforts extend beyond direct CO2 reductions, emphasizing innovative solutions to broader sustainability challenges.
Editor-in-Chief of Airlineratings.com, Geoffrey Thomas, lauded Etihad Airways for its leadership in sustainable flight, particularly highlighting the Greenliner Boeing 787 program and the Sustainability50 A350 aircraft. Thomas noted the airline’s commitment to reducing its CO2 footprint and the potential for advancements in sustainable aviation demonstrated in Etihad’s Sustainability Report for 2021-2022.
Etihad’s 2023 sustainability achievements include a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions per RTK, the addition of 5 A350 aircraft to their fleet, and environmental efforts such as planting 68,916 Mangrove trees and recycling over 29,000 plastic bottles by employees. The airline has also saved over 770,000 liters of water through waterless bus washing, offset 3,700+ tonnes of CO2 by guests, and conducted over 40 ecoFlights in 2022. Moreover, guests have flown over 4.9 million carbon-neutral air kilometers, and Etihad introduced a circular economy dining service and expanded its green loyalty offerings. Additionally, the airline continues to develop its Sustainable Aviation Fuel roadmap and operated its first Etihad NetZero flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Book & Claim.
