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Qatar Airways CEO urges fair and transparent regulation in aviation
Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker has emphasised the need for a fair and transparent regulation in the aviation industry. Al Baker delivered a keynote in front of leading aviation experts and executives from around the world, gathered at the Centre for Aviation conference in Sydney. He opened his speech addressing the crowd on Qatar Airways’ resilience on the anniversary of the illegal blockade against the State of Qatar. He then shifted on the importance of fairness and regulation in the aviation sector. CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “This week has brought airline CEO and aviation leaders from around the world together in Sydney for the IATA Annual General Meeting, providing the perfect platform for this Centre for Aviation event, of which I am delighted to have taken part.” Al Baker and Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG) “The aviation industry continues to grow, and events such as the IATA AGM and these Centre for Aviation events, are crucial to bring together leaders from all over the world and enable face-to-face discussion and debate. In my capacity this year as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors, I will continue to champion such open debate in the name of fairness and regulation in the aviation sector,” he said. Al Baker did not specify on what he meant of “fairness and regulation in the aviation industry”. However, a quick search on Google, the general idea is to ensure a fair and transparent market. This is quite ironic coming from one of the state-owned, heavily subsidized Gulf carriers accused of unfair market practices. Moreover, this is the same chief executive that claimed in his keynote that the airline must be led by a man "because it is a very challenging position". Al Baker immediately apologised for this sexist remark. While women accounted for 5% of all airline CEOs; as of 2014, 12 out of the 248 airlines operating worldwide were led by women.
AirAsia scores 10/10 in 42kft.com’s global sustainability rankings
AirAsia scored a straight 10 out of 10 score in the aviation industry’s first comprehensive, data-driven sustainability audit conducted by 42kft.com. Recognised among only 25 top-performing carriers out of 142 airlines evaluated worldwide, AirAsia’s achievement underscores its leadership in sustainable aviation. Conducted by a platform founded by aviation industry specialists, the rigorous assessment evaluates airlines on the basis of nine criteria. These include fleet modernisation, adoption of cutting-edge technologies, implementation of fuel efficiency innovations, investment in next generation fuel sources, carbon offsetting initiatives, and transparent sustainability reporting. Beyond mere pledges 42kft.com chief executive Geoffrey Thomas lauded AirAsia’s performance in the audit. Thomas said: “AirAsia’s standout performance reflects its sweeping commitment to sustainability across fleet renewal, alternative fuels, waste reduction and more. The AirAsia Group scores exceptionally well across every environmental metric. It is without doubt one of the global leaders in eco-conscious aviation.” With regard to the significance of the audit, Thomas explained that the assessment goes beyond vague climate pledges to measure real-world action. He said: “Pledges such as ‘Net Zero by 2050’ are considered baseline expectations, not distinguishing factors. With these rankings, we are honouring real, measurable commitments to reducing carbon emissions.” AirAsia’s chief sustainability officer Yap Mun Ching expressed the airline’s gratitude for the recognition by saying: “This accolade validates the breadth of our sustainability efforts, acknowledging not just our achievements but also the unique challenges we navigate in our region. From adapting to diverse regulatory frameworks to balancing global standards with local realities, our approach has been both strategic and inclusive.” Yap further highlighted AirAsia’s leadership role in shaping sustainable aviation policy, including chairing Malaysia’s National Task Force on Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and serving as a technical expert on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s working group on CORSIA. She said: “We actively engage stakeholders across the transport and environmental sectors to align industry practices with climate goals. On the global stage, we advocate for regional perspectives in multilateral forums to ensure equitable and effective sustainability policies.” Findings from the 2024 sustainability report The 42kft.com announcement coincides with the release of the Capital A’s Sustainability Report 2024, detailing AirAsia’s strides in reducing its environmental footprint. Key highlights include: Record-low carbon intensities: Emissions per seat (gCO2/ASK) fell to 63.7 and emissions per passenger (gCO2/RPK) to 72.3, achieved through more than 20 operational efficiency measures that avoided 129,189 tonnes of CO2 and saved US$34 million in fuel costs. Ground operations innovation: AirAsia deployed its first four combo units (integrated ground power and air conditioning system) at KLIA2, reducing the need for aircraft engines to power parked planes. Upon full rollout, these units are projected to cut 1% of AirAsia’s CO2 emissions. Strategic partnerships: Collaborating with Airbus, AirAsia is advancing sustainable aviation research in Asean, specifically into alternative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock development and innovative air traffic management solutions. AirAsia also joined Heart Aerospace’s Industry Advisory Board to support commercialisation of hybrid-electric aircraft.
Meetingselect’s Meeting Booking Widget makes its Asia-Pacific debut
Global meeting management platform Meetingselect officially launched its Meeting Booking Widget in the Asia-Pacific region, with the technology making its debut at Novotel Singapore on Stevens. The Meeting Booking Widget’s launch complements Meetingselect’s broader strategic growth in the APAC region. While the company continues to expand its core platform offerings throughout Asia-Pacific, the Meeting Booking Widget represents an auxiliary product that enhances the digital capabilities of individual venues, enabling them to adopt self-service booking technology directly on their own sites. Novotel general manager Piotr Kupiec declared at the launch: “This partnership with Meetingselect is more than a technological integration. It’s a continuation of our vision to position Novotel Singapore on Stevens as Singapore’s preferred destination for dynamic, digitally driven meetings and events.” For her part, Meetingselect founder and chief product officer Judith Huisman said: “The booking of a meeting room or an event space has now become just as easy as a restaurant reservation. Our Meeting Booking Widget supports a customer-friendly web booking experience to boost productivity and automate internal operations. This simple web solution revolutionizes how hotels and venues handle reservations for meeting rooms and event spaces. Planners can easily search and book space and select food and beverage items, and amenities directly from the owner's website. Novotel Singapore on Stevens leads the way by driving innovation with meetings technology in Singapore’s Meetings & Events Industry.” What the widget can do for the hospitality sector The Meeting Booking Widget enables venues to offer meeting room reservations directly on their websites through a fully white-labelled and seamlessly embedded interface. With real-time availability, transparent pricing, and instant confirmation, planners can now search, book, and customise meeting spaces as intuitively as making a restaurant reservation. Especially designed to meet the needs of Asia-Pacific venues, the widget supports multi-language capabilities, customisable F&B selections, and integrated payment options, streamlining internal operations while enhancing the end-user experience. These features are particularly well-suited to the fast-paced and culturally diverse APAC events landscape.
Ant International’s WorldFirst launches World Card
Ant International’s WorldFirst has launched World Card, a Mastercard-enabled virtual card solution designed to help SMEs grow by simplifying global transactions and lowering operational costs. Small businesses stand to benefit from the e-commerce boom, where market size is projected to reach US$12.9 trillion in 2032 with a 13.65% CAGR[1]. However, they also face a set of challenges to capitalise on the broad industry potential, including high entry barriers, rising operational costs, and fierce competition, a Deloitte-WorldFirst report has found. Having empowered over one million SMEs to scale their businesses internationally, WorldFirst has partnered with Mastercard to develop for World Card the following customised features to enhance global operational efficiency for customers: • Global coverage across regions and use scenarios: Customers can pay with World Card for purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted, in 150+ currencies across 210+ countries and regions. There are no foreign exchange fees in cross-border payments with 15 major currencies when paying from WorldFirst account balance, including USD, CNH, EUR, GBP, JPY, SGD HKD, AUD, NZD, and CAD. The service covers most recurring business scenarios, ranging from digital marketing on e-commerce sites, software subscriptions, shipping and logistics. • Security: World Card has obtained the highest-level certification of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), uses 3DS/AVS transaction verifications, 24/7 real-time assistance, and spending limits to safeguard transactions and prevent fraud. • Transparent and centralised multi-card management: Customers may create multiple cards for specific expenses, teams or projects later this year. All spending can be tracked in one central dashboard, enabling precise control over expenditure. • Cashback rewards program: Cashback on every eligible payment helps customers save and grow. The World Card complements the comprehensive offerings on the World Account, the flagship product of WorldFirst offering global payment, collection, foreign exchange conversion, and treasury management from a single account. 2025 will see a full-scale rollout of the World Card to markets across Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa. World Card will also begin to support Apple Pay and Google Pay in the coming months. A physical World Card is coming in 2025, enabling in-person transactions while serving as a backup when digital payments aren't possible. The physical card retains the digital version's benefits, including multi-currency support, cashback and security through unified platform management - while ensuring compatibility with chip-card POS terminals. Annabella Sonwelly, founder of Singapore’s Annabella Patisserie Macarons says: “Benefiting from World Account and World Card, which offers saving of time and money, we can invest in other aspects of the business - to enhance our product quality through R&D, operational efficiency. By doing that, we can provide better customer satisfaction and give us a competitive advantage, which is key to our long-term business growth.” “With the launch of the World Card, WorldFirst and Mastercard are giving ambitious businesses a smarter way to manage spending. Today’s small businesses often have global ambitions, but outdated payment processes can hold them back. The new solution offers the ease, security, and international reach they need to scale without borders. Together, we’re helping them simplify operations, stay on top of spending, and expand into new markets,” says Jane Prokop, executive vice president and global head of small and medium enterprises at Mastercard. “WorldFirst enables business growth by delivering solutions featuring global coverage, secure transactions and operational efficiency—essential foundations for SMEs’ success in today's digital economy. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Mastercard and industry leaders to pioneer innovative solutions like World Card, empowering SMEs and drive inclusive growth”, says Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst and vice president of Ant International. WorldFirst is part of Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider offering a unified techfin platform to unlock next-gen commerce for all.
Trippido launches Global Travel Platform
Trippido has officially launched its online platform, offering a streamlined approach to travel bookings for individual travelers and travel professionals. The platform provides comprehensive services, including activity and event tickets, visa processing, accommodations, transportation, and vacation rentals—making trip planning more accessible and efficient. Established in 2021 as an offline service provider in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, Trippido has since expanded its operations globally. It now serves Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, and other destinations. “Trippido was born out of a need to simplify a fragmented industry,” said Tushar Kharbanda, Founder and CEO of Trippido. “As a traveler myself, I noticed how scattered travel services were—multiple platforms, inconsistent pricing, and complicated processes. We built Trippido to address these inefficiencies, offering a unified platform where travelers and agents can access everything seamlessly. Our goal is to simplify travel and give our partners better margins and control over their bookings.” For individual travelers, Trippido simplifies the process of booking experiences and essential travel services in one place. With its user-friendly interface, travelers can easily access a variety of curated experiences, from adventure activities to cultural tours, while enjoying transparent pricing and reliable customer support. As Trippido transitions online, it continues to uphold the same level of service that has earned the trust of its customers. A long-time Trippido customer, Khalid Al Mansouri shared his perspective on the transition to an online platform: “I’ve been using Trippido’s services offline for a while now, and they’ve always provided a hassle-free experience. Knowing that the same reliability and convenience are now available online makes me confident that Trippido’s platform will be a game-changer for many travelers like me.” Trippido’s B2B portal provides an all-in-one solution for travel agencies to manage client bookings more efficiently. With access to a broad selection of travel services, agencies can streamline operations, reduce administrative workload, and offer more competitive travel options to their clients. Early users of the B2B portal appreciate its efficiency. One of the partners, V Agrawal, Director, 3G Online Services, shared his experience: “Before Trippido, managing bookings meant juggling multiple platforms with unclear pricing structures and frustrating user interfaces. The independent dashboard provides an amazing experience, allowing us to manage bookings, access real-time pricing, and secure better margins. This level of control and transparency makes a huge difference in how we serve our clients.” With its official launch, Trippido aims to bridge the gap between traditional and digital travel services, offering a platform that caters to the evolving needs of travelers and industry professionals alike. Travelers and agencies can now experience a simplified, more efficient way to plan and book travel through Trippido.
CAA to issue temporary permits to cut airfares on domestic routes in Oman
A breathtaking view from Al Amirat Heights overlooking Muscat, Oman, during the blue hour Proposals have been invited from eligible national and international air carriers, charter operators, and leasing companies to provide temporary domestic air services on these routes between July 1 and August 31 and December 1 and January 31. To enhance air transport capacity to meet increased demand during peak seasons, ensure affordable fares by reducing price surges due to high demand and support Salalah’s tourism sector by improving accessibility for residents and tourists. As informed by a news report in Oman Daily Observer. The interested operators must meet the following requirements, such as a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC) (Omani or international), proven operational experience and financial stability, and compliance with Oman’s safety, security, and environmental regulations, adequate passenger and third-party insurance and liability coverage. The aircraft must have a capacity of 100 to 200 seats (to balance demand and airport capacity), Oman CAA’s technical and safety standards. The last date to submit applications is April 17, 2025, and the evaluation will be based on operational capability and fleet suitability, proposed fare structure and service quality, past performance, and financial reliability. The slot coordination with Muscat, Sohar & Salalah Airports is mandatory, besides minimum service reliability, transparent pricing, and passenger rights compliance.CAA said it will conduct regular audits on performance and non-compliance (safety violations, cancellations, etc.) may result in permit termination. The so-called exorbitant airfares on the Salalah-Muscat sector have always been a point of contention among passengers, especially those traveling with families during the peak Khareef months. Last year, Oman Air and SalamAir started implementing the fixed-fare ticket policy, aimed at encouraging domestic tourism in Dhofar, especially during the Khareff season. According to the National Center for Statistics and Information, around 70 percent of the Salalah visitors traveled by road, mainly to cut travel costs. These airfares force visitors to Salalah to take to the road, and the long drive on the 1,000-km stretch has often turned out to be fatal for some motorists and their families. Overspeeding, fatigue, and low visibility during rain are often cited as the main reasons for these unfortunate incidents. During the khareef season, the return economy class ticket was at RO54 for citizens
IATA officially launches its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Registry
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) officially launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry with its release to the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO). The Registry, now live under CADO management, will enable a global market for SAF that will accelerate the transition to net zero emissions by 2050. In a statement, IATA officials pointed out that the decarbonisation of the global aviation sector requires collective effort. They said: “In releasing the SAF Registry to CADO for launch, we have put in place a critical platform for the benefit of all stakeholders. It ensures that all airlines in the world have access to SAF and that their SAF purchases can be claimed against any climate-related obligations in this domain. The Registry will record the environmental attributes of SAF purchases in an immutable way, safeguarding against double counting. Airlines, their corporate customers, fuel producers, regulatory bodies, and all related organizations will be able to record and account for their SAF transactions in a global market for SAF.” Officials added that, while this is of fundamental importance and a historically momentous advance, it is but one step along the way to a mature, transparent, and liquid global SAF market. Further progress requires active policy support for the ramping-up of all renewable energy production, and for SAF within that production. According to IATA senior vice-president for sustainability and chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen: “Governments must reallocate their direct support given to fossil fuel producers in favor of renewable energy production. The precedent of the wind and solar energy markets is the example to follow, and this without any further delay.” What exactly is the SAF Registry? The SAF Registry is a global system to record SAF transactions in a standardized and transparent way. It ensures that the environmental benefits of SAF can be tracked as they move across the SAF value chain and enable the claiming of these against regulatory obligations and voluntary schemes by airlines and corporate customers. The Registry helps solve the challenge of limited SAF supply which is acutely scarce and available in only a few locations globally by connecting airlines with SAF producers and suppliers, regardless of their geographical location. In addition, it gives airlines’ corporate customers access to in-sector emissions reductions and capitalizes on firms’ capacity to co-finance the cost of decarbonisation. The SAF Registry is technology and feedstock neutral, favouring the emergence of diverse SAF production streams across the world. It will be able to accommodate specific regulations, while favoring global harmonisation. Moreover, interoperability with other registries is an important feature of the Registry, supporting competition and open markets. The Registry was developed in consultation with airlines, government authorities, OEMs, fuel producers and suppliers, and corporate travel management companies. With over 30 early users already in the process of onboarding and ready to use the system, the Registry is underpinned by the IATA SAF Accounting and Reporting Methodology which provides a consistent approach to accounting for the environmental benefits of SAF purchases, regardless of location.
Minor Hotels ‘reimagines’ its brand with a new identity
NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa Minor Hotels has unveiled its evolution into a guest-facing masterbrand and reinforced its commitment to creating innovative and insightful hospitality experiences that deliver what matters most to its guests. The brand refresh marks a significant milestone for the global hospitality group as it paves the way to add nearly 300 properties to its portfolio by the end of 2027. It also follows the 2018 acquisition of NH Hotel Group, now operating as Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, which tripled the group’s global footprint. Ian Di Tullio, Chief Commercial Officer of Minor Hotels, commented: “The reimagined Minor Hotels brand represents more than just a new identity. Our value-driven evolution, powered by enhanced digital platforms, a streamlined loyalty program, and a strong distribution strategy, reflects our ambition to deliver extraordinary hospitality experiences to our guests and be the partner of choice for owners and investors. By uniting our brands under the Minor Hotels masterbrand, we’re excited to enter a new era of growth where Minor Hotels will resonate as powerfully with travellers as it already does with our partners.” The guiding principle behind the brand evolution is to deliver what matters most to guests, team members, investors, owners and partners. Minor Hotels’ new masterbrand strategy brings its eight hotel brands – Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli – and travel experience brands together under the Minor Hotels banner, highlighting the group’s offerings and solidifying Minor Hotels’ perception among its stakeholders. New brand identity The first thing guests will notice is Minor Hotels’ fresh new look. The arrowhead within the ‘M’ of the Minor Hotels logo represents direction and guidance, pointing the way to discovery, connection and adventure, and reflects Minor's role in shaping meaningful guest journeys. The visual identity is completed with a refreshed colour palette, signature brand fonts and eye-catching photography. The new brand essence – What Matters Most – and voice will share Minor Hotels’ stories in tune with the needs and desires of today’s consumers, stakeholders and team members. Guests will interact with the Minor Hotels brand through all consumer touchpoints, starting with digital and mobile platforms and other changes involving marketing and sales channels and at Minor Hotels’ properties. They can also expect to see Minor Hotels more frequently and prominently through multi-brand communications and advertising, utilising the power of its hotel brands to drive awareness of the umbrella brand. Minor Hotels’ hotel brands, each with a unique character and offering, will retain their brand identity, websites and marketing. They will also benefit from the development of the overarching Minor Hotels brand, done in tandem with the hotel brands. Coinciding with the Minor Hotels rebrand, the group has updated its brand architecture to categorise its hotel brands into three segments – Luxury, Premium and Select – to guide guests’ decisions on selecting the right brand for their travel needs. The group also plans to expand its hotel brand portfolio to fulfil guest and owner needs, with at least two additional brands launching later this year. Upgraded digital experience The group has relaunched minorhotels.com as a consumer site, shifting its focus from a corporate and development-centric site. For the first time, guests can book any of Minor Hotels’ over 560 properties on one Minor Hotels website as well as find destination information. Minor Hotels has also launched a new mobile app, creating a single go-to app for all its brands and moving away from hotel brand-specific apps. Travellers can use the Minor Hotels app to book stays, manage bookings and gather destination information. During their stay, guests can enhance their experience by using the app to interact with hotel team members and request services. The group will continuously increase functionality and personalisation on minorhotels.com and the Minor Hotels app, including integration of the group’s restaurants and spa and wellness offerings, drawing from user preferences and incorporating guest feedback. Simplified loyalty programme under Minor DISCOVERY Minor Hotels will continue to recognise its guests through the Global Hotel Alliance’s (GHA) loyalty programme, GHA DISCOVERY, under a new name: Minor DISCOVERY. Minor DISCOVERY will replace hotel brand-specific monikers – Anantara DISCOVERY, Avani DISCOVERY, NH DISCOVERY, Oaks DISCOVERY, Elewana DISCOVERY, Tivoli DISCOVERY – to streamline member access to one of the most transparent and rewarding hotel loyalty programmes. Rewards and benefits for members of Minor DISCOVERY are unchanged, including earning 4-7% back in DISCOVERY DOLLARS (D$1=US$1), exclusive member rates, live local offers, and elite perks all conveniently accessible within the app. To mark the new programme’s launch, new Minor DISCOVERY members can unlock $100 in DISCOVERY DOLLARS by completing two stays at Minor Hotels properties. Refreshed B2B customer proposition Businesses, professionals, event planners and travel agents will have a dedicated space in the newly created Minor PRO. The programme encompasses all the products, services and communications for B2B audiences, including existing programmes under hotel brand-specific names, such as NH PRO, Anantara Journeys and Oaks Professionals. Minor PRO will offer its professional customers solutions that meet their needs. Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, added: “The Minor Hotels rebrand is a natural progression for us, building on a success story spanning more than five decades. It isn’t just about driving revenue and profitability; it’s also about harnessing the strength of our diversity, our knowledge and team members to achieve long-term sustainable growth and invest in the guest experience. Unifying all our hotel brands and travel experiences under the Minor Hotels umbrella will help us strengthen our positioning in the hospitality industry and help us deliver on our growth ambitions.” .
Delta partners with JetZero to design the future of air travel
Delta Air Lines is partnering with JetZero on a revolutionary, more sustainable aircraft that looks and feels like nothing flying today’s commercial skies. The California-based start-up’s vastly more fuel efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) design is at the center of the collaboration and is one facet of Delta’s ongoing journey to advance industry innovation, drive down cost through increased fuel-savings, elevate the customer experience and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. On the heels of the airline celebrating 100 years of flight, the partnership underscores Delta’s commitment to shape what the future of flight looks like for centuries to come. Delta’s formal partnership with JetZero comes after the start-up received a grant from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 to help facilitate building a full-scale demonstrator for first flight in 2027. Delta will play a crucial role in the development by providing the operational expertise to help make this technology viable. “Working with JetZero to realize an entirely new airframe and experience for customers and employees is bold and important work to advance the airline industry’s fuel saving initiatives and innovation goals,” said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “While Delta is focused on doing what we can today to address our carbon footprint, it’s critical we also work with a variety of partners to advance revolutionary technologies, like JetZero’s blended-wing-body aircraft, to solve for a significant portion of future aviation emissions.” As the newest member of Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab, JetZero has the direct support of the global carrier’s world-class talent and access to its industry-leading operations. That includes the right maintenance and operational footprints to prove out and accelerate the commercialization of the BWB airframe technology – which is expected to be up to 50% more fuel efficient than the tube-and-wing designs1 customers experience today. The partnership with JetZero marks Delta’s fourth “revolutionary fleet” partnership outlined in its Sustainability Roadmap launched in 2023: a groundbreaking, transparent roadmap by which Delta aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The leading global airline will also help design an interior experience of the future to ensure a best-in-class customer and employee experience. The uniquely shaped airframe, that differs from today’s tube-and-wing shape, offers endless possibilities. With Delta at the helm of designing the interiors, customers can expect changes that enhance their experience, including dedicated overhead bin space for each passenger, accessible seats and lavatories, and fewer rows. “JetZero is working to change the world by bringing to market an aircraft that aims to fly this decade and make immediate and marked progress toward reducing airline energy costs, and the associated emissions,” said Tom O’Leary, JetZero cofounder and CEO. “The ability to realize such significant efficiency gains in the near future meaningfully impacts the industry’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and will serve as the foundation on which other technologies and efficiencies can be realized. Delta was one of the first carriers to partner with us, supporting us behind the scenes since 2023, and we look forward to their continued support of our program through their deep knowledge and expertise.” Rendering courtesy of JetZero Evolution of the blended wing body The revolutionary BWB aircraft, first tested and demonstrated in the 1990s by NASA and Stanford University to be safe and efficient, will also be capable of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) when it goes into service, since it will use today’s engine propulsion systems. Aircraft manufacturers have made incredible advancements to increase overall commercial aircraft fuel efficiency since passenger jets were first introduced. In fact, fleet fuel efficiency is estimated to be 80% better than 50 years ago. At the same time, Delta has continued making fleet modifications – like adding winglets and lightweight landing gear to further the effort. In fact, Delta’s cross-divisional Carbon Council saved a cumulative 40+ million gallons of fuel in 20242 due to operational efficiencies, fleet modifications, and reduced weight on board. But the industry agrees that more is needed, and quickly. This U.S. Air Force’s grant, coupled with support from partners such as Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, and ongoing coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, further validates for major aviation stakeholders that the BWB design is a solution within reach. Delta has informally partnered with JetZero since 2021 on how to best commercialize the aircraft as part of the start-up's grant application. JetZero’s BWB aircraft are expected to include a slate of revolutionary benefits for consumers and for environmental sustainability including: The BWB is up to 50% more fuel efficient than conventional tube-and-wing airframes on the market due to the design, which creates less drag, provides more lifting surface area, provides even load and lift distribution, and overall is markedly lighter in weight. Capacity to carry more than 250 customers – which is similar to existing widebody aircraft – to provide the level of capacity and range needed to meet growing travel demand. Less noise. With engines mounted on top of the aircraft, BWB aircraft are expected to be significantly quieter than existing aircraft. The potential to fit into existing airport infrastructure and offer faster turn-around times – areas Delta is exploring and advising on. Utilizing SAF to further decrease lifecycle carbon emissions. Delta believes in connecting people to a more sustainable future of travel. The global airline’s ongoing work to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 while delivering a more sustainable future of travel focuses on what we fly, how we fly and the fuel we use. While we’re making changes that are within our control today, like reducing fuel consumption across our operations, Delta is also working on long-term solutions like advancing sustainable aviation fuel to fully decarbonize its operations and the industry.
IATA establishes Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) formally established the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO.) This new entity was created to manage the IATA-developed Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry once it is released. IATA senior vice-president for sustainability and chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen said: “CADO will turbo-charge the imminent launch of the IATA-developed SAF Registry. Its mandate is to manage the SAF Registry as a separate entity from IATA with an open and global approach that supports the scrutiny needed to build trust among all stakeholders. In fact, the door is open for any stakeholder in the SAF value chain, including governments, to join CADO. This inclusive approach should also be a force for the harmonization of the principles on which all SAF registries operate.” IATA director-general Willie Walsh added: “The SAF Registry is a critical piece of market infrastructure that is indispensable in building a global, transparent, and liquid global market for SAF. The industry’s commitment to build the Registry and establish CADO to manage it should inspire governments, fossil fuel producers, and investors to engage in the SAF market with commensurate vigor. Ramping-up SAF production is the common goal and the structure we are putting in place with CADO is an important step in moving decarbonization forward.” What exactly is CADO? CADO is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in Canada with its headquarters in Montreal. IATA is the founding member of CADO and its role in CADO will include ongoing technical support and operations. CADO membership is open to organisations that operate in or contribute directly to the SAF value chain, or that represent any association or group of participants in the SAF value chain; states or quasi-state organisations with a direct interest in the operations and benefit of the SAF Registry; and related interest groups indirectly benefitting from SAF deployed in the aviation system. The SAF Registry that CADO will take charge of helps solve the challenge of limited SAF supply which is acutely scarce and available in only a few locations globally. The Registry will do this by connecting airlines with SAF producers and suppliers, regardless of their geographical location. In addition, it gives access to airlines’ corporate customers to in-sector emissions reductions and capitalizes on firms’ capacity to co-finance the cost of decarbonisation.
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