Yesterday, easyJet became the first airline in the world to sign a contract with Airbus for its carbon-removal initiative.
The pair, who have already established themselves as leaders in the sustainability space, encapsulate the industry’s multifaceted approach to the challenge of curbing emissions. Recently, easyJet and Airbus alongside Rolls-Royce, Ørsted, and others also established the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance. Urging collaboration across policy makers and promising to work constructively with Government, local authorities, and the aviation and hydrogen sectors, HIA is working to accelerate the delivery of zero carbon aviation.
Speaking on the carbon-removal initiative, Thomas Haagensen, Group Markets Director at easyJet, said:
“Decarbonising a hard to abate sector, such as aviation, is a huge challenge and we believe carbon removal will play an important role in addressing our residual emissions in the future, complementing other components to help us achieve our pathway to net zero. Our ultimate aim is to achieve zero carbon emission flying and, as well as investing into important projects like direct air carbon capture technology, we are working with multiple partners – including Airbus – to accelerate the development of zero carbon emission aircraft technology.”
Affirming a shared commitment to innovation, the carbon removal solution uses Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology filters to remove CO2 emissions directly from the air using high powered extraction fans. The CO2 is then safely and permanently stored in underground reservoirs.
DACCS has been described as a form of industrial photosynthesis, “capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air and, when combined with storage (DAC+S), storing the captured CO2 deep underground.” This, when used in conjunction with SAF can work to reduce aviation’s contribution to rising carbon concentration which currently sits at 422.29 parts per million (ppm), 50 per cent higher than average pre-industrial levels.
As the industry turns to towards fuel alternatives, it is important to look at how SAF can work both symbiotically and in tandem with carbon removal to further climate mitigation. Learn more here.
For more like this see:
- Four big picture take aways from the SITA sustainability report
- Interview with Andreas Slettvoll, CEO CHOOOSE – Sustainability and regional trends
- Interview with Robert Horton, DFW Airport – “Sustainability is complimentary to good business”
Also in the news:
How IT Innovations Propel Airlines Towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050
What value can airports and airlines gain by investing in biometrics?
Bamboo Airways Selects Amadeus’ Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) in Preparation for Global Expansion
In-Flight Connectivity. A Lucrative, Loyalty Building Opportunity