Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we talk to Alanna James, Managing Director Sustainability Initiatives at Hawaiian Airlines, who shares insights into the airline's distinctive approach to sustainability and the challenges of operating in an island environment.Hawaiian Airlines, a 94-year-old company headquartered in Honolulu, faces unique sustainability challenges due to Hawaii's geographic isolation and vulnerability to climate change. James discusses:The airline's deep connection to Hawaii and how it informs their approach to sustainability, which goes beyond environmental concerns to include economic and cultural sustainability.The critical role of air travel in Hawaii, serving as an essential "highway system" for inter-island connectivity and supporting the state's tourism-based economy.Hawaiian Airlines' roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, next-generation aircraft, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).The airline's ambitious goal to use 10% SAF by 2030 and the strategies they're employing to achieve this, including partnerships with SAF suppliers and efforts to develop local SAF production in Hawaii.Exploration of innovative technologies like electric sea gliders for inter-island travel and the potential role of hydrogen-powered aircraft in the future.Throughout the conversation, James emphasises the delicate balance Hawaiian Airlines must strike between maintaining essential air connectivity and preserving Hawaii's natural beauty and resources. If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Diana Birkett Rakow, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, who shares how the airline is planning to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.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:Environmental Stewardship - Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii Renewable Fuels CoalitionHawaiian Airlines invests in Regent seagliders - ch-aviation Hawaiian Airlines Commits to New Milestones on Path to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions - Hawaiian Airlines Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to Combine, Expanding Benefits and Choice for Travelers Throughout Hawai‘i and the West Coast Alaska Airlines’ multi-faceted approach to achieving net zero by 2040 - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban-Air Port, who shares insights into the company's groundbreaking vertiport technology and vision for the future of urban air mobility (AAM).Urban-Air Port is at the forefront of AAM infrastructure, with their main product Air-One being the world's first fully-operational and off-grid hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Sandhu discusses Urban-Air Port's mission to enable a new era of advanced air mobility through designing, developing, fabricating, and operating innovative airport infrastructure.Delving into the economic and environmental impacts, Sandhu highlights the potential for increased productivity and reduced carbon emissions through urban air mobility. He discusses Urban-Air Port's partnerships with major players like Supernal and LG Electronics.Sandhu also addresses the challenges and opportunities in vertiport development, including the need for public acceptance and regulatory approval. He shares his vision of urban airports becoming as ubiquitous as gas stations, facilitating a new era of urban transportation. Looking to the future, Sandhu discusses the potential for vertiports to integrate with existing transportation networks and their role in promoting sustainable and efficient urban mobility.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder & Chief Engineer for Innovation and Future Programmes at Lilium, who shares Lilium’s vision to revolutionise regional air mobility by building the world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more. 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:Urban-Air Port Urban-Air Port joins forces with NACO, accelerating vertiport integration into airports globally. - Vertical MagLG Electronics and Urban-Air Port team up - Airports International Urban-Air Port Founder Touts Benefits Of ‘Vertical Airfield’ - Aviation Week Network World-first electric Urban Air Port® secures UK government backing - Hyundai World’s first airport for flying cars and drones opens in UK - World Economic Forum How the Lilium Jet will open up new frontiers for eVTOLs - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Ed Mason, Founder & CEO of Jet Zero Australia, who shares insights into the company’s ambitious projects to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a commercial scale. Jet Zero Australia is an Australian bioenergy company that aims to develop the country’s first Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) facility for SAF production, using surplus ethanol from agricultural and sugarcane byproducts. Mason discusses Jet Zero Australia’s two upcoming projects: Project Ulysses and Project Mandala, which aim to establish Australia as a major player in the SAF market. Project Ulysses will use LanzaJet’s ATJ technology, to convert bioethanol into SAF and renewable diesel. Mason provides insights into the strategic choice of Townsville as the location for Project Ulysses, citing factors such as renewable energy availability, proximity to feedstock, and supportive local infrastructure. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities in SAF distribution and the role of the book and claim system in expanding the reach of SAF benefits. Mason also highlights the critical role of partnerships in the SAF industry, with Jet Zero Australia collaborating with major players like Qantas, Airbus, Idemitsu and the Queensland Government. Delving into the economic impact of SAF production, Mason highlights the industry’s potential for job creation and emphasises the need for continued innovation and collaboration to achieve sustainable aviation goals.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, who shares the company’s journey in developing the world’s first proven ATJ technology that converts ethanol into SAF and renewable diesel. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.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:Jet Zero Australia Project Ulysses - Jet Zero AustraliaLanzaJet and Jet Zero agree to develop Australia’s first ethanol-to-SAF plant - GreenAir News  Idemitsu, Qantas and Airbus back Australia biofuel refiner with $25.5 million - The Straits Times LanzaJet plans to produce 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2030 - SimpliFlying 

Alejandra Martín Frías from FLIGHTKEYS discusses contrail avoidance in aviation to reduce climate impact, highlighting simulations showing up to 73% reduction in contrail energy forcing with less than 0.11% increase in costs. The challenges of contrail avoidance, the industry's hesitance, and the importance of non-CO2 emissions are explored.

Boeing's Chief Sustainability Officer, Brian Moran, discusses the company's SAF& strategy focusing on sustainable aviation fuel, innovative technologies, and regaining trust. He highlights Boeing's Cascade model, advancements in SAF, investments in future technologies, and involvement in the eVTOL space. Moran addresses Boeing's challenges, emphasizing safety and sustainability.

Ali Warrington from Possible, a climate charity, discusses the insufficiency of current aviation decarbonisation solutions like SAF and hydrogen. She advocates for demand reduction through a frequent flyer levy and systemic changes in global travel infrastructure. The podcast touches on legal complaints against airlines for greenwashing, challenges in transitioning to renewable energy, and the importance of sustainable travel choices in climate activism.

Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter, debunks the 'hard to decarbonise' myth in aviation, advocating for pricing flights accurately. He explores sustainable aviation fuels, electric aviation, and the industry's pivotal choices for a greener future.

In this episode, we talk to Grace Vihenda, Senior Manager, Innovation and Sustainability at Kenya Airways, who shares the airline’s efforts to promote sustainable aviation in Africa, a continent with abundant resources for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production but limited infrastructure and investment.In 2023, Kenya Airways became the first African airline to use SAF for an intercontinental long-haul flight. The flight was conducted as a part of SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge, despite the challenges posed by the lack of a SAF policy framework in the country and the need to purchase the fuel from overseas at a significantly higher cost. The flight has been instrumental in helping chart the course for supportive policy action and the need to set up local SAF production. Vihenda discusses Kenya Airways’ plans to scale up local production, with testing and certification planned for 2024, and eventual commercialisation for broader use.Vihenda also elaborates on Kenya Airways’ innovative sustainability initiatives, such as partnering with a startup to produce cleaner diesel from waste plastic, implementing 100% recycling of food waste during in-flight meal preparation, and developing upcycled products from aircraft parts. She also emphasises the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among airlines to advance sustainability goals.As a side note, AviaDev Africa Conference, a crucial platform for improving air travel connections across Africa, is taking place from June 19-21, 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia. Learn more about AviaDev here.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with SkyTeam Alliance’s CEO Patrick Roux who outlines the alliance’s role in enabling airlines’ net zero journey. Check it out here.Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.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:Sustainability - Kenya AirwaysKenya Airways operates first flight from Africa using Eni’s aviation biofuel - ESG News Kenya Airways wins top prize in two categories in the ‘Sustainable Flight Challenge’ - Airspace Africa Why SkyTeam believes the world needs “conscious travel” - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, who shares the company’s journey in developing the world’s first proven alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology that converts ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. Samartzis discusses LanzaJet’s ambitious target of producing 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2030. Elaborating on LanzaJet’s highly efficient and capital-light ATJ technology, he explains how it can produce up to 90% of fuels as SAF and the remaining 10% as renewable diesel. The process is also adaptable to various feedstocks, including waste materials, allowing LanzaJet to leverage local, sustainable inputs, and cater to the needs and resources of different countries.Samartzis emphasises the importance of collaborations with airline investors and partners like British Airways and Southwest Airlines in driving the adoption of SAF. He also discusses the environmental benefits of LanzaJet’s technology and SAF, which include the elimination of sulphur, reduction in particulate matter, and potentially lower contrail formation.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with World Energy’s President & CEO Gene Gebolys who delves into the intricacies and future of SAF. Check it out here.Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.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:Sustainable Fuels - LanzaJetCleaner skies ahead? A glimmer of hope for airline industry’s clean fuel challenge - The Economic TimesLanzaJet unveils world’s first ethanol-to-sustainable jet fuel plant in Georgia - BloombergBritish Airways, Nova Pangaea, LanzaJet project wins UK funding - Biomass Magazine How World Energy is shaping the future of sustainable aviation fuel - SimpliFlying 

Preeti Jain from IATA discusses the challenges of scaling up sustainable aviation fuel production to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. She emphasizes the need for increased SAF plants, policy support, and collaboration among stakeholders. Jain sees potential in leveraging existing refinery infrastructure and expects SAF costs to decline over time. Her strategy involves feedstocks, technology, policy support, and partnerships to overcome challenges and accelerate SAF adoption.