AirAsia has announced a strategic partnership with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to drive advancements in aviation sustainability across the ASEAN region. This collaboration, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, marks a significant milestone in their long-term relationship.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their sustainability divisions, outlining a joint effort to explore decentralized production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The initiative focuses on using alternative feedstocks and innovative technologies to expand SAF supply in Southeast Asia, contributing to the region’s efforts to lower aviation-related carbon emissions.
Yap Mun Ching, Chief Sustainability Officer at Capital A, the parent company of AirAsia, emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting AirAsia’s role as a key player in testing SAF feasibility in the ASEAN region. She highlighted that the partnership will help address the aviation sector’s need for scalable solutions to meet decarbonization goals, with a key focus on SAF, operational efficiency, and fleet upgrades.
The partnership also includes a commitment to improving air traffic management (ATM) systems. By leveraging AirAsia’s fuel efficiency program and Airbus’ expertise in aeronautics, both parties will work to identify and implement solutions developed under the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project. These solutions will be evaluated for their applicability in ASEAN airspace, with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions through improved flight operations and routing.
Airbus’ Chief Sustainability Officer, Julie Kitcher, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that Airbus is committed to decarbonizing aviation on a global scale. She praised AirAsia as a valuable partner in exploring efficiency improvements and scaling SAF production in the ASEAN region.
As part of its sustainability initiatives, AirAsia has been upgrading its fleet with the latest fuel-efficient aircraft models. In June, the airline took delivery of its first A321neo aircraft since the pandemic, with additional deliveries scheduled for late 2023. Beginning in 2024, all Airbus aircraft delivered to AirAsia will include a 5% SAF blend.
With 361 A321 aircraft on order, AirAsia’s fleet renewal efforts are projected to reduce the airline’s CO2 emissions by up to 10% by 2035, compared to 2019 levels. Through the implementation of over 20 operational efficiency measures in 2023, the airline has already avoided emitting 130,000 tonnes of CO2, contributing to a US$40 million reduction in fuel costs.
The collaboration between AirAsia and Airbus is a crucial step toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, supporting the broader goal of sustainable aviation in the region.