Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we talk to Andreas Aks, CEO of Widerøe Zero, a subsidiary of the Norwegian airline Widerøe. Widerøe Zero has been set up as a consultancy-cum-incubator that seeks to shed the baggage of legacy aviation and usher in a green future. The company aims to tackle the regulatory, commercial and financing challenges involved in purchasing and operating an entirely new class of aircraft.In this episode, we’ll delve into sustainable aviation’s future, particularly focusing on electric and hydrogen-fueled aircraft. We’ll also learn about the need for long-term vision and industry-wide collaboration; exploring the potential of retrofitting existing fleets; and the vital role OEMs and customers play in this future-facing transformation of the aviation industry.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Embraer’s President & CEO Arjan Meijer and Vice President of Marketing and Strategy Rodrigo Silva e Souza. They elaborate on Embraer’s ambitious roadmap for decarbonising regional aviation. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Nordic airline Wideroe launches unit for emissions-free flying - Reuters Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation - European CommissionWiderøe Zero to launch Air Mobility Lab - Widerøe Zero  Wideroe outlines ambitions for zero-emissions flying - Flight GlobalRolls-Royce Joins Forces with Tecnam, Widerøe on Electric Model - FLYING Magazine Eve and Widerøe expand partnership with order of 50 eVTOL aircraft - Airport TechnologyWiderøe First Airline to Join Embraer’s Energia Advisory Group - EmbraerEmbraer, Widerøe and Rolls-Royce Partner To Pursue Zero Emission Flight - Aero Expo Embraer’s ambitious roadmap for decarbonising regional aviation - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby Aviation. On our podcast, she explains why, thanks to over 10 years of designing, developing and testing, Joby is set to be a leader in the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) space. Thanks to an initial investment by JetBlue Ventures, followed by further investment and an exclusive partnership with Delta Air Lines, Joby expects to enter commercial service in 2025.  We’ll also hear about the company’s grand vision of saving a billion people an hour a day; the value of collaboration and partnerships while building a new aircraft; the benefit of attracting top talent from a variety of companies and building a people-first organisation; and why these so-called electric air taxis will usher in a radical new form of convenient and affordable last-mile transportation. If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder at Archer Aviation. Goldstein explains in detail how eVTOLs will change the way we live, travel and spend time. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:JetBlue invests in flying taxi startup - Travel MoleToyota-backed Joby eVTOL production to start in California, USA - Team-BHP Joby Aviation receives permit to fly first eVTOL built on production line - TechCrunch How Joby and Delta are making flying taxis a reality - CNBCJoby and ANA to operate eVTOL flights at Expo 2025 Osaka - AeroTimeDubai again plans for flying taxi takeoff, this time by 2026 - ET EnergyWorldJoby Aviation Reveals Details of Its New ‘Aviation Academy’ - FLYING Magazine  Why eVTOLS will change the way we live, travel and spend time - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Oscar Munoz, former CEO of United Airlines and recently retired Executive Chairman of the airline’s board. Munoz shares insights from his new book, “Turnaround Time”, a deeply personal account of his time as CEO during which he led United’s remarkable comeback.On our podcast, he explains the pivotal role of empathy and trust in leadership, especially in navigating an organization through crises and fostering an innovative and inclusive culture for long-term success and sustainability.We’ll also hear about the value of diversity and inclusion; innovation during crises like COVID-19; and the future of aviation with sustainability and eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) playing significant roles.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Scott Kirby, the current CEO of United Airlines. Kirby explains in detail how United Airlines is the carrier to look up to when it comes to sustainability strategy and investments. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Turnaround Time by Oscar Munoz How United’s Oscar Munoz Bounced Back After a Heart Transplant - Fortune 2017 United Express Passenger Removal - WikipediaHow Former United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz Turned the Struggling Airline Around - Inc.com United's Busting Out the Big Bucks On Flying Taxis - Gizmodo Archer, United Airlines to Launch First eVTOL Air Shuttle - Airways Magazine How Scott Kirby is making United Airlines a global leader in sustainability - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Zita Schellekens, SVP Strategy & Sustainability at KLM who explains how a sustainable future can be achieved without sacrificing growth.We’ll hear about KLM’s commitment to sustainability through innovative technologies and collaborations. In addition, the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, testing new aircraft designs, and integrating sustainability into business decisions are key strategies. We’ll also learn how KLM’s decision to abandon “economic tankering” for environmental reasons exemplifies a willingness to make tough choices for a greener future.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantic’s VP Corporate Development and Sustainability. She shares how the airline is preparing to conduct a historic 100% SAF flight with its partners; the existing regulatory and technical challenges with procuring, producing and using SAF; and other pathways to net zero by 2050. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Note: This episode is a part of our SkyTeam special series. In this series, we will highlight SkyTeam member airlines participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, and bringing sustainability into flight operations today. Links & More:KLM Group’s CO2 emission reduction targets for 2030 approved by SBTi - KLMTankering in aviation - Transport & Environment EU agrees to decarbonize air travel with the ‘world’s largest green fuels mandate for aviation’ - CNBC KLM starts collaboration with AeroDelft student team: building a hydrogen plane - KLMKLM, SkyNRG and SHV Energy greenlight the world’s largest stand-alone sustainable aviation fuels project - Biofuels DigestNeste to supply the Air France-KLM Group with more than 1 million tons of SAF - ARGSAir France KLM Signs 210 Million Gallon SAF Offtake Agreement With DG Fuels - DGFuels Sustainable Flight Challenge - SkyTeamVirgin Atlantic’s 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel gambit - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Vincent Etchebehere, Director of Sustainability and New Mobilities at Air France who maps out the airline’s short- and long-term pathways to net zero emissions.We’ll also learn about the importance and effectiveness of fleet renewal and how the airline is planning to adopt alternative fuels including hydrogen and reduce its carbon footprint. Etchebehere highlights Air France’s investments in SAF; explains why transparency and science-based communication are crucial; and urges intra-industry cooperation to aid the airline’s efforts to meet its decarbonisation targets.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby who firmly believes that sustainability is the defining issue for our generation to solve. He explains in detail how United is the carrier to look up to when it comes to sustainability strategy and investment; their investments in SAF; and why carbon sequestration is far better than carbon offsetting. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Note: This episode is a part of our SkyTeam special series. In this series, we will highlight SkyTeam member airlines participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, and bringing sustainability into flight operations today. Links & More:France has banned air travel between cities that can be reached easily by train - Business Insider  Fleet modernization, the first lever in the Group’s decarbonization - Air FranceAir France and SNCF to operate an additional 7 “Train + Air” services - Air France Air France-KLM pushes its sustainability targets forward with major multi-year Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) purchase agreements - Air France EU agrees to world’s largest green fuels mandate for aviation - Transport & Environment Air France CEO Anne Rigail sees trains playing a bigger role in her airline’s strategy - Airline Weekly Sustainable Flight Challenge - SkyTeamHow Scott Kirby is making United Airlines a global leader in sustainability - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to SkyTeam Alliance’s CEO Patrick Roux, who outlines the alliance’s role in enabling airlines’ net zero journey. He also discusses The Sustainable Flight Challenge, SkyTeam’s groundbreaking initiative to promote sustainable innovations, and how sustainability can be an integral part of customer experience. We’ll also learn about the importance of collaboration among airlines to achieve sustainability, the evolving customer experience driven by environmental consciousness, the necessity to adapt despite varying regulatory pressures, and the value of sharing innovations and best practices.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh, who shared how the alliance is supporting airlines in stepping up their sustainability game, including efforts such as inter-modal partnerships, a sustainability summit, investment in SAF and more. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Note: This episode is a part of our SkyTeam special series. In this series, we will highlight SkyTeam member airlines participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, and bringing sustainability into flight operations today. Links & More:Sustainable Flight Challenge - SkyTeamImpact of TSFC - SkyTeam SAUDIA participates in SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge 2023 in joint effort to make aviation cleaner - Bloomberg Kenya Airways operates its most sustainable boeing 787 flight yet - Simple Flying DB becomes first intermodal partner of the Star Alliance - Railway News How Star Alliance is facilitating a net-zero future in aviation - SimpliFlying

In this episode, we talk to Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability OfficerVice President, at Delta Air Lines. She shares how the next frontier of sustainability is collaboration – not only from collaboration with their SkyTeam airline partners, but also in how it shows up in other spheres whether they’re on the ground or in the air. We’ll also learn about Delta’s single-minded focus on tracking customer preferences and linking them to sustainability; the airline’s efforts to run on 10% SAF by 2030; the aggressive campaign to discard single-use plastics and reduce waste; a unique collaboration with MIT to explore the reduction of airplane contrails; and, of course, the first-of-its-kind Sustainable Skies Lab that seeks to create a space for various stakeholders and innovators to collaborate and realise the future of sustainability. If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantic’s VP Corporate Development and Sustainability. She shares how the airline is preparing to conduct their historic 100% SAF flight and using SAF and other pathways to net zero by 2050. Check it out here.Reach out to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Note: This episode is a part of our SkyTeam special series. In this series, we will highlight SkyTeam member airlines participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, and bringing sustainability into flight operations today. Links and more:Delta Ups onboard sustainability with eco-friendly soft products - Simple FlyingClean Skies for Tomorrow leaders: 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030 - World Economic Forum Delta signs SAF agreement with Gevo - Biomass Magazine California Legislature passes bill to achieve 20% SAF use by 2030 - Biobased Diesel Fort Worth’s Aero Design Labs aims to help Delta Air Lines save fuel, reduce carbon emissions with 'Drag Reduction Kits' - Dallas Innovates  Delta to work with MIT to study impact of airplane contrails on climate - Phys Org Delta Airlines and Joby outline a seamless, sustainable eVTOL passenger experience - APEXDelta Air Lines pushes towards net zero emissions with Sustainable Skies Lab - ForbesVirgin Atlantic’s 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel gambit - SimpliFlying

Later this year, Virgin Atlantic will conduct the world’s first net zero transatlantic flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). If all goes well, it could set the stage for much cleaner flying by the end of this decade.In this episode, we talk to Holly-Boyd Boland, Virgin Atlantic’s VP Corporate Development and Sustainability. She shares how Virgin Atlantic is preparing to conduct the historic flight with its partners and the existing regulatory and technical challenges with procuring, producing and using SAF. We’ll also learn about the importance of studying the impact of contrails on the climate; the potential of carbon capture technology; Virgin Atlantic's corporate SAF programme; their in-flight sustainability initiatives and much more.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Sheila Remes, Boeing’s Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, who shared how the airframer is collaborating with industry stakeholders – such as Virgin Atlantic – to move aviation towards its 2050 net zero goal. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:[2008] Boeing, Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation to Fly First Commercial Jet on Biofuel - Boeing Newsroom World’s first net zero transatlantic flight to fly from London in 2023 - GOV.UK Virgin Atlantic purchases 10 million gallons of SAF from Gevo - Biofuels International Magazine Virgin Group plans to use low-carbon fuel made from plastic waste - The Independent Airlines and others collaborate to study contrails - Travel Weekly Protecting our planet - Virgin Atlantic Reducing, reusing and recycling - Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic launches corporate SAF programme - Business Travel News Europe  Boeing’s Sheila Remes in conversation with Shashank Nigam - SimpliFlying 

Carbon offsetting is a frequently used solution for mitigating excessive emissions, especially in aviation. The solution however, is not without its fair share of controversies.In this episode, we talk to CarbonClick’s Vice President of Enterprise Product & Strategic Partnerships, Seth Horowitz. He shares how the carbon offsets, when used carefully, can be an asset to aviation. As an industry leader in managing and implementing transparent offsetting programs, CarbonClick helps individuals and top global airlines reduce pollution while restoring nature. However, Horowitz emphasises that offsetting must be used as the last step mitigation strategy, only after every other reduction methodology has been exhausted. We’ll also learn about Horowitz’s thoughts on the recent controversy and criticisms of carbon offsetting; how CarbonClick verifies and selects projects; the offsetting technology platform that the company provides to airlines and eCommerce companies; individual responsibility towards the environment and why intentional flying is the way forward.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad, who shares his thoughts on Etihad’s carbon offsetting programme and how the airline is paving the way for the entire industry to move a step closer to net-zero. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Full disclosure: CarbonClick is a co-sponsor of the Sustainability in the Air podcast Season 3 and has been the sole sponsor for Seasons 1 and 2.Links & More:Airport and Airline Carbon Offsetting Solution for Bookings - CarbonClickThe Carbon Con – How offsetting claims are vastly inflated - Source Material Carbon offsets are in the news again. What should you do? - SimpliFlying The Gold Standard  Etihad Airways boosts carbon offset programme  Tony Douglas, Etihad Airways CEO, in conversation with Shashank Nigam - SimpliFlying 

Aircraft are the heart of aviation. Making efficient and greener aircraft is possibly the most effective way to cut the industry’s carbon emissions. In this episode, we talk to Embraer’s President & CEO Arjan Meijer and Vice President of Marketing and Strategy Rodrigo Silva e Souza. They share how the aircraft manufacturer is on a mission to decarbonise regional aviation through a mix of innovative technologies.At the heart of Embraer’s sustainability roadmap is their regional air mobility (RAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) strategy. Underpinned by their Energia hybrid-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft and Eve Air Mobility’s eVTOLs, Embraer is placing its bets on decarbonising shortest-haul travel first. We’ll also learn about why planes cannot entirely be replaced by trains; the sustainability outlook for business jets; how Embraer built the world’s quietest narrowbody aircraft; the ways in which in-cabin improvements can enhance sustainability; Embraer’s plan for carbon neutral operations by 2040 and net zero by 2050.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Airbus’ Amanda Simpson about how the airframer is at the forefront of investing in new technologies and innovations, chief among them being hydrogen. Check it out here.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.Links & More:Embraer - The shape of things to come, new sustainable aircraft concepts revealed Concepts - Embraer Commercial Aviation Sustainability Demonstrators and customer feedback at heart of Embraer’s Energia roadmap - Flight Global What Is New With Embraer's Energia Family Concept? - Simple Flying A look at Eve’s eVTOL aircraft as it targets type certification in late 2025 - Vertical Schiphol eliminating all overnight flights and private flights by the end of 2025 - NL Times Inside Embraer - How The E2 Became The Quietest Jet - Simple Flying Embraer commits to carbon neutral operations by 2040 - Aviation Benefits Embraer, Raízen partnership to stimulate production of sustainable aviation fuel - Biobased Diesel Embraer sets new target for 100% green electricity in Brazil - Airport Technology