Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways has taken a bold step towards fostering sustainability as a central tenet of its operations. This steadfast commitment is showcased in its recently unveiled Qatar Airways Group Annual Report for the fiscal year 2022/2023, where the airline highlights its dedication to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Qatar Airways is always keen to explore new initiatives for a more sustainable business, to enhance operations, and most importantly to engage with all stakeholders to meet its corporate commitments and regulatory compliance.”
A primary thrust for Qatar Airways is its proactive stance on tackling climate change and managing energy consumption. While acknowledging the hurdles in decarbonising aviation, the airline has set an ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. “Qatar Airways has taken this pledge as part of a global agreement by the air transport industry under the auspices of both the UN-body, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the industry-leading body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA).”
To materialise this aspiration, Qatar Airways has crafted a Four-Pillar Strategy, a comprehensive roadmap encompassing Technology, Operations and infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Offsetting and market-based measures.
On Technology, the state-owned airline “continues to invest in the most modern aircraft and engines that actually help in decarbonising the aviation industry, as new aircraft and engine generations reduce the overall jet fuel consumption. The airline investments are also extended to other solutions and products that result in enhancing the efficiency of its operations and reducing its environmental impact.”
Meanwhile, on Operations and infrastructure, the report noted that “collaboration is essential to reach net zero emissions by 2050.” The airline is actively engaging with diverse stakeholders to optimise both ground and air infrastructure, with the ultimate aim of reducing flight durations and wait times, thereby effectively diminishing its carbon footprint. “Qatar Airways has also developed in-house operational standards and protocols that further optimise its operations.”
A highlight of Qatar Airways’ pioneering efforts is its adoption of SAF. The airline etched its name in history as the first in the Middle East and Africa to commit to SAF integration. While promoting low carbon fuels that satisfy commercial viability and certification benchmarks, Qatar Airways is ambitiously striving to integrate at least 10% SAF into its jet fuel consumption by 2030.
Another noteworthy facet of Qatar Airways’ sustainability journey is its voluntary carbon offset initiative, launched in 2022 for its corporate and trade clients.
This programme empowers these entities to offset or minimise their carbon emissions linked with business travel, underlining their commitment to environmentally conscious practices. Qatar Airways is backing this initiative by investing in high-quality offset projects with a primary focus on renewable energy production. “So far, the airline has invested in projects located in Africa and Asia.”
Moreover, the report said that “Qatar Airways has systems in place to ensure that the CO2 emissions are tracked accurately and in accordance with the applicable regulations” aligning with international mandates. It remains steadfast in adhering to Qatar’s obligations under the voluntary phase of the ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Also, the airline ensures compliance with the European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) and the UK Emission Trading System (UK ETS) for its emissions within European territories.
