Sustainability In The Air Charting the next phase of sustainable aviation: Sustainability in the Air, Vol. II
In this special episode, SimpliFlying’s CEO Shashank Nigam and Head of Sustainability Dirk Singer sit down with senior leaders from three companies featured in their upcoming book, Sustainability in the Air, Vol. II.
Joining the conversation are Jonathon Counsell (Group Head of Sustainability, IAG), Diana Birkett Rakow (SVP of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Alaska Airlines), and Ashwin Jadhav (VP of Business Development, Twelve). Together, they explore how their organisations are addressing aviation’s toughest sustainability challenges — and where the industry is headed next.
Here are some key highlights from the episode:
- Why Volume II? Singer explains why the time was right for a second volume of Sustainability in the Air: the landscape has shifted dramatically in just 18 months, with a sharper focus on commercial viability and real-world implementation.
- Industry maturation: The sustainable aviation sector has evolved to focus on business benefits beyond environmental credentials — being green alone is no longer enough.
- IAG’s SAF usage: Counsell shares how IAG has become an industry frontrunner in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), using 162,000 tons last year — about 1.9% of its total fuel consumption.
- Long-term partnerships:Jadhav discusses Twelve’s landmark 14-year SAF offtake agreement with IAG – an extraordinary commitment in an industry where one-year contracts are the norm.
- Investing in innovation: Birkett Rakow highlights Alaska Airlines’ approach to sustainability through strategic investments in climate tech companies like Twelve, ZeroAvia, and JetZero via Alaska Star Ventures.
- Corporate partnerships: The discussion explores how Microsoft’s partnership with Alaska Airlines and Twelve is helping absorb the green premium — demonstrating the role non-aviation players can play in accelerating industry transformation.
- The role of policy: All three guests weigh in on the urgent need for government support to help scale sustainable aviation solutions.
Sustainability in the Air Vol. II will be available soon, and you can preorder your copy now on Amazon. Be among the first to discover these practical insights from airlines, airports, and climate tech companies working to decarbonise aviation.
Links & More:
Sustainability in the Air: Innovators transforming aviation for a greener future - SimpliFlying
Alaska Airlines’ multi-faceted approach to achieving net zero by 2040 - SimpliFlying
Why IAG is focusing on the practicality of SAF more than emerging technologies - SimpliFlying