SkyTeam is bringing together 24 airlines in its Aviation Challenge, a shared initiative, to find and implement ideas to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.
Additionally, non-SkyTeam affiliated airlines TUI Airline and Corendon Dutch Airlines are also taking part in this initiative.
SKYTEAM AVIATION CHALLENGE
The airline group launched its sustainable flight challenge three years ago, marking the industry’s first competition aimed at promoting innovation and action to reduce the environmental impact of flying.
SkyTeam has also rebranded the initiative as The Aviation Challenge, reflecting its broader vision to drive meaningful change across the aviation sector.
TTW reports that the alliance has opened The Aviation Challenge to non-SkyTeam airlines this year, for the first time.
“By scaling up and implementing solutions generated in previous years and widening its scope, we expect The Aviation Challenge to realize increased potential to reduce flying’s environmental impact, helping participants to further their own sustainability goals. While we await greater production of SAF and the future technology our industry needs, The Aviation Challenge is bringing together global airlines and stakeholders from across aviation in a proactive stance to help address the environmental impact of flying.” Skyteam says.
SHARING BEST PRACTISES
Airlines participating in the Aviation Challenge have committed to sharing their learnings and best practices.
Since the launch of the first challenge in 2022, 465 solutions have been generated. This has helped to reduce emissions across various aspects of airline operations.
These solutions include increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), optimizing flight paths, reducing waste, and improving cargo handling.
SCALING UP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
While the initial challenges focused on discovering new ideas, Skyteam’s sustainable Aviation Challenge now aims to implement these solutions and demonstrate their scalability across the wider industry.
This year, participating airlines will focus on integrating solutions from the previous challenges into their entire operations.
The 72 flights operated as part of last year’s challenge achieved an average improvement of 19% in CO2 intensity compared to the same flights operated the previous month, eliminating 30 tons of emissions.
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SKYTEAM COLLABORATION
They have the option to operate a showcase flight to demonstrate how they have successfully implemented these innovations.
For instance, new member Virgin Atlantic will share key insights from its Flight100, the first flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel.
PANEL OF AVIATION SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTS
A diverse panel of global sustainability and aviation experts will analyze the submissions, awarding those that best demonstrate the impact and scalability of the implemented solutions.
The criteria for judging have been developed in partnership with leading aerospace experts, including PA Consulting and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR).
AIRLINES PARTICIPATING IN THE SKYTEAM AVIATION CHALLENGE
This year’s participating airlines include Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air Europa Express, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Corendon Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Endeavor Air, Garuda Indonesia, JamboJet, Kenya Airways, KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Korean Air, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Saudia, Shanghai Airlines, TAROM, TUI Airline, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and XiamenAir.
