Air New Zealand Ltd has revealed that, after careful consideration, it is abandoning its 2030 carbon emissions reduction target and will immediately withdraw from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a worldwide climate action organization backed by the United Nations. The carrier said that many of the levers needed to meet the target, including the availability of new aircraft, the affordability and availability of alternative jet fuels, and global and domestic regulatory and policy support, are outside its direct control and remain challenging.
Greg Foran, Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, indicated that potential delays to the carrier’s fleet renewal plan posed a risk to achievability of the 2030 target. He added that Air New Zealand may need to retain its existing fleet longer than planned, due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues that potentially could slow the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft into the fleet.
In 2022, Air New Zealand set a target to achieve a 28.9 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. The airline said that it has now begun to consider a new near-term carbon emissions reduction target that could better reflect the challenges relating to aircraft and alternative jet fuel availability within the industry. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its member states have a goal to reduce carbon emissions by five percent by 2030.
Air New Zealand remains committed to the airline industry’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The carrier said that its work to transition away from fossil fuels continues.
Raymond Jaworowski currently co-authors three of Forecast International's best-selling products: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, and Rotorcraft Forecast. As a contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book, he has authored Aircraft Outlooks, and provided input for the publication's Aircraft Specifications tables. Raymond has represented Forecast International at numerous conferences and trade shows, often as a featured speaker. He is a member of the American Helicopter Society.
