Sustainability In The Air

Welcome to the holiday edition of Sustainability in the Air, the world’s #1 podcast on sustainable aviation. Over the next couple of weeks, we will bring to you some of the finest conversations from our archives and add context based on the latest updates from the companies featured.Following up our first holiday special with Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines is our conversation with Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Since our episode with Delta—recorded about six months ago—they’ve made a number of major announcements that are worth noting, not least of them being Amelia’s elevation to her new role as Chief Sustainability Officer.While we cover these developments in a new introduction to the episode, here’s what you can expect from the episode itself: Amelia, leading Delta’s sustainability efforts, has made significant strides in integrating sustainability with customer service. Under her stewardship, Delta is emphasising industry collaboration to reach net zero emissions, focusing on reducing single-use plastics and optimising operations for fuel savings. Further, their Sustainable Skies Lab spearheads innovation, partnering with companies like Joby Aviation for eVTOL air taxis. Launched in 2023, Sustainable Skies Lab aims to accelerate sustainable air travel innovation, featuring an Ideation Studio to showcase future solutions. Delta is also working to increase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply, advocating for more production by large energy firms and government support. Additionally, they are collaborating with MIT to study airplane contrails’ environmental impact. 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:Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer is on a mission to use less fuel - Fast CompanyDelta among founders of new aviation fuel coalition - Business Travel News  Delta in final tests to replace plastic cups with paper on flights - Minneapolis /St. Paul Business Journal Delta Air Lines, Xcel Energy, Greater MSP push for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) hub in Minnesota - Star Tribune Delta Air Lines helps establish 1st large-scale SAF hub in the US & other stories in aviation - SimpliFlying  Joby wants to alleviate the pain and frustration of getting from home to your airline seat - SimpliFlying 

Welcome to the holiday edition of Sustainability in the Air, the world’s #1 podcast on sustainable aviation. Over the next couple of weeks, we will bring to you some of the finest conversations from our archives and add context based on the latest updates from the companies featured.First up is our episode with Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, an airline that continues to set new standards in terms of their sustainability commitments and efforts. Since our episode with them—incidentally one of our earliest—they’ve made a number of major announcements that are worth noting.While we cover these developments in a new introduction to the episode, here’s what you can expect from the episode itself: Kirby highlights United’s commitment to net-zero emissions, focusing on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), sustainable technology investments, and carbon sequestration over traditional carbon offsets. He points out the limitations of tree planting as a carbon offset method and advocates for direct carbon removal from the atmosphere.United leads in SAF usage, despite its current high cost and scarcity, and is working on making it more viable through United’s Eco-Skies alliance and government support. Kirby also touches on United Ventures’ efforts in electrifying short-haul flights and a partnership with Boom for a SAF-powered supersonic airliner.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, who discusses the airline’s commitment to net zero, and the overarching BA Better World sustainability strategy. 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:United’s sustainable flight fund grows to nearly US$200 million - Hydrocarbon EngineeringUnited Airlines inks deal to buy 1B gallons of SAF - PhocusWireUnited Airlines Invests in Electric Power Systems to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation Initiatives - SMEBoeing, NASA, United Airlines To Test SAF Benefits with Air-to-Air Flights - BoeingUnited, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn announce integrated ticket agreement - Airport TechnologyAirlines should prioritise storytelling, not statements, on sustainability - Flight Global British Airways’ route to sustainability with BA Better World - SimpliFlying 

In this episode we talk to Bertrand Lestimé, ZEROe Market and Customers Leader at Airbus, who outlines the airframer’s multi-pronged strategy to reach net-zero.Lestimé shares how Airbus is focusing on fleet renewal, improving operational efficiency and air traffic management, and investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and carbon removal technologies. A pivotal part of Airbus’ strategy is the ZEROe project, dedicated to developing hydrogen-powered aircraft, seen as a game-changer for the industry.Lestimé also discusses the challenges associated with integrating hydrogen into aviation – aircraft redesign, setting up requisite infrastructure for production and transport of fuel, hydrogen storage, and the feasibility of transitioning from experimental to commercial hydrogen flight. We will also learn about Airbus’ partnerships with industry stakeholders like easyJet, and initiatives like Airbus’ Blue Condor project, that are further accelerating the journey to a zero emissions flight.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Sheila Remes, Boeing’s VP of Environmental Sustainability, who shares how the aircraft manufacturer is collaborating with industry stakeholders to move aviation towards its net zero goal. 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:ZEROe - Low carbon aviation - Airbus Contrail-chasing Blue Condor makes Airbus’ first full hydrogen-powered flight - Airbus How Boeing has been working on a net zero future for over a decade - SimpliFlyingWhy Airbus is betting big on hydrogen combustion - SimpliFlying easyJet and Airbus strike a deal: zero carbon flying with carbon removal credits - Carbon Credits  easyJet, Airbus and Rolls-Royce launch new ‘Hydrogen in Aviation’ lobby group to accelerate zero-carbon flight - Hydrogen Insight 

In this episode we talk to Helen Giles, Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability at Southwest Airlines, who shares how the low-cost carrier is integrating sustainability into its operations. Giles discusses how Southwest is balancing growth with sustainability, the airline’s net zero roadmap and the crucial role of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in reducing the airline’s carbon emissions. She also shares the potential of hydrogen and alternative propulsion systems in aviation, acknowledging their long-term possibilities while also highlighting their current limitations for Southwest’s fleet. Instead, she emphasises the importance of introducing fuel-efficient aircraft, using electric ground support equipment, and maximising operational efficiencies.   Giles also outlines Southwest’s efforts in contrail reduction, participating in the Contrail Impact Task Force to develop predictive models and contrail avoidance procedures, illustrating the carrier’s multifaceted approach to achieving sustainability in aviation.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantic’s VP Corporate Development & Sustainability about the world’s first net zero transatlantic flight using 100% 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:Southwest Airlines Environmental Sustainability Initiatives - Southwest Airlines Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) - Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Inks 20-Year Jet Fuel Deal in Quest to Go Green - BloombergSouthwest Airlines announces new tool to enable support of SAF - Biomass MagazineAirlines Unite with Tech Sector and Academia to Tackle Climate Challenge of Aviation Contrails - RMIVirgin Atlantic’s 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel gambit  

In this episode, we talk to Dave Kettner, President and General Counsel at Virent about the company’s innovative contributions to renewable energy and its pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future in aviation.Kettner emphasises their breakthroughs in renewable fuels, particularly their BioForming process that converts plant carbohydrates into bioformate, a green alternative to petroleum products. This process is used to create sustainable gasoline, aviation fuel, and materials for various industries, marking a shift to plant-based resources.Kettner also highlights Virent’s rapid conversion of plant sugars into fuels and chemicals, a faster alternative to natural oil formation. Despite varying global views on biofuels, he remains positive, citing agricultural advancements. A notable project is their collaboration with Virgin Atlantic on a 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight, showcasing their technology's practical use. Virent plans to globally license its technology, aiming to decrease aviation emissions and foster a more sustainable industry, aligning with their commitment to renewable energy development.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Amy Ruddock, VP Europe and Middle East at Carbon Engineering, who explains how Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology – that removes carbon dioxide directly out of the atmosphere – can help decarbonise aviation. 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:Virent and Johnson Matthey's SAF breakthrough powers Virgin Atlantic's historic 100% sustainable transatlantic flight - Hydrocarbon ProcessingLighting the SAFterburners: Virent, Air bp, Virgin, Gevo, Axens, ECARU, others accelerating on SAF - Biofuels Digest Rolls-Royce and Gulfstream test 100% SAF blend in G650 twin-jet; HEFA and SAK - Green Car Congress Madison company's plant-based biofuel powers engine of Boeing 777 jet - Madison Virent developing environmentally friendly bottles for Coke How Direct Air Capture technology could ensure long-term SAF supply - SimpliFlying

In this episode we talk to Dr Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University, Australia, who discusses various aspects of sustainable travel and its relationship with climate change.With her roots in Germany, current engagement at Griffith University in Australia, and residing in New Zealand, Becken is a unique voice in sustainable tourism. Her global lifestyle has fostered a deep connection with airlines, fuelling her dedication to enhancing their sustainability. Becken has widely published on the topics of sustainable tourism, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, tourist behavior, environmental policy, and risk management. She was a contributing author to the Fourth and the Fifth IPCC Assessment Reports. In the episode, she is particularly vocal about the tangible impacts of climate change, referencing the year’s unprecedented climate anomalies and highlighting the susceptibility of tourism destinations to environmental catastrophes.The conversation also revolves around the challenges with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the complexities of transitioning to sustainable aviation. Becken also calls for the implementation of ecological ceilings in tourism to manage carrying capacity and reduce environmental impacts, advocating for a shift from volume-based to value-based tourism models.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Red Sea Global’s CEO John Pagano who shared how the giga-project developer is rethinking eco-tourism, enabling true climate-positive travel. 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:Ecological ceiling - The Doughnut EconomyThere’s a buzz about ‘sustainable’ fuels – but they cannot solve aviation’s colossal climate woes - The Conversation Vanuatu Sustainable Tourism Strategy - Pacific Farmers Can there be ultra long-haul flights in a net zero world? - CNA How Red Sea Global’s ambitious eco-tourism model could save the planet - SimpliFlying Implications of preferential access to land and clean energy for Sustainable Aviation Fuels - Becken et al. (2023)Knowledge alone won’t “fix it”: building regenerative literacy - Becken and Coghlan (2022)

In this episode we talk to Gene Gebolys, President and CEO at World Energy, the world’s first producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that has been in the business of renewable fuels for over 25 years. They produce sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha, with plans to create renewable propane and green hydrogen.Gebolys delves into the intricacies and future of SAF in this conversation. Emphasising World Energy’s transition from a biofuels company to a leader in SAF, he highlights the critical role of hydrogen in SAF production and the need for innovation in hydrogen sourcing. Gebolys sheds light on their groundbreaking green hydrogen project in Newfoundland, Canada, and the importance of balancing first and second-generation biofuels.We’ll also learn about California’s regulatory framework, which has been pivotal in the development of SAF, as well as the ‘book and claim’ methodology, a crucial strategy for extending SAF’s impact globally. The conversation underscores the importance of corporate partnerships, with companies like Microsoft and DHL playing key roles in SAF adoption. Gebolys envisions a future where SAF usage is standard, driven by customer demand and a collaborative effort from all industry stakeholders. If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Gregory Constantine, Co-Founder and CEO of Air Company which is transforming CO2 into clean alcohols and fuel. 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:World Energy Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMIMicrosoft and World Energy sign landmark 10-year book-and claim SAF deal – GreenAir News Etihad Airways and World Energy partner to demonstrate the future of net-zero aviation, making book & claim real - Etihad World Energy GH2 secures land approval for its green hydrogen project - Offshore Energy 

In this episode, we talk to Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, who discusses the airline’s commitment to net zero, and the overarching BA Better World sustainability strategy.We will learn about BA’s short-, medium- and long-term initiatives to support greener flying, its CO2llaborate platform that embeds sustainability into the customer journey, the comprehensive employee engagement program, and the airline’s strong focus on operational efficiencies. Harris also highlights BA’s investments in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the airline’s efforts to reduce waste and single-use plastics, and its research project on contrails and non-CO2 emissions.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Air France’s Director of Sustainability and New Mobilities, Vincent Etchebehere, who shares the airline’s short- and long-term pathways to net zero emissions, intermodal partnerships and the importance 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:BA Better World - British Airways Sustainability at British Airways 2023 - British Airways BA, Lanzajet & Nova Pangaea move closer towards large-scale production of SAF in the UK - British Airways British Airways Co2llaborate platform - Chooose How Air France plans to exceed the EU’s decarbonisation targets - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we speak with SimpliFlying’s CEO Shashank Nigam, and Head of Sustainability Dirk Singer, about the launch of their brand new book, ‘Sustainability in the Air.’The aviation industry finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the environmental consequences of its operations. While today aviation’s global share of greenhouse gases is around 3%, that could grow to 22% by 2050 if left unchecked. But the authors of Sustainability in the Air argue that this is not a doomsday scenario; it’s a call to action. In their book, Dirk and Shashank delve into the industry’s challenges while painting a picture of hope through a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable aviation. The book however, isn't just a roadmap; it tells the stories of people in the aviation industry and within climate tech, striving for aviation’s net zero future.Featuring industry leaders like Etihad, SkyTeam, JetBlue, and innovators like AIR COMPANY, Heart Aerospace, ZeroAvia, Archer, ‘Sustainability in the Air’ shines a light on the positive changes that aviation can make while offering concrete solutions.You can learn more about the book here, or order it on Amazon.Links & More:Sustainability in the Air: Innovators Transforming Aviation for a Greener Future - SimpliFlying How JetBlue plans to get to net zero by 2040 without stifling growth - SimpliFlyingHow AIR COMPANY is transforming CO2 into clean alcohols and fuel - SimpliFlying  Why Heart Aerospace’s electric aircraft is a gamechanger - SimpliFlying Why ZeroAvia believes that hydrogen propulsion is the future - SimpliFlyingWhy eVTOLS will change the way we live, travel and spend time - SimpliFlying  

In this episode we talk to Hiske Arts, Campaigner at Fossil Free NL (Fossielvrij NL), a Dutch citizens’ movement seeking to “break the power of the fossil fuel industry”. Arts voices her concerns about the aviation industry’s contributions to the climate crisis and emphasises her scepticism about the aviation industry’s genuine commitment to addressing climate concerns. The conversation delves into the concept of a “carbon budget” and the aviation industry’s emissions, with Hiske arguing that the sector faces unique challenges to become sustainable. We also learn about the growth trajectory of the aviation sector, with much of the debate centring on the responsibility of developed nations versus developing nations in tackling emissions. Arts maintains that developed nations, due to their historical contributions to emissions, should take the lead in addressing climate change. This view is reflected in her stance on the aviation industry’s growth aspirations; Arts believes that true sustainability cannot coexist with the current emphasis on continual growth. Please note: When talking about SBTi, Hiske mistakenly mentions that they delay emissions reductions until after 2030. What she meant to say was that SBTi targets are delaying steep emission reductions until after 2030.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) Program Director, Dan Rutherford, who dives deep into the future of sustainable aviation and the trajectory airlines and governments need to follow to get to net-zero emissions.. 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:The Fossil Free Movement - Fossielvrij NLFossielVrij NL v. KLM - Climate Change LitigationDutch government presses ahead with Schiphol flight cap as airlines protest - Reuters    Would a frequent flying tax be progressive? - International Council on Clean Transportation Dan Rutherford on net-zero roadmaps and transitioning to sustainable technologies - SimpliFlying