AirAsia has partnered with Airbus to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation initiatives in the ASEAN region.
The collaboration will focus on reducing carbon emissions through research into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and advanced air traffic management (ATM) technologies.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two companies’ sustainability divisions outlines plans to explore decentralized SAF production using alternative feedstock and technologies in Southeast Asia. The partnership seeks to identify promising projects that can contribute to expanding SAF supply in the region.
The MoU also set forth conditions to jointly investigate advanced measures to improve air traffic management (ATM) to reduce CO2 emissions, leveraging AirAsia’s industry-leading fuel efficiency program and Airbus’ pioneering role as a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. The organizations will be identifying applicable solutions developed as part of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Project and assessing their suitability for adaptation to ASEAN skies.
“AirAsia will be a key partner of Airbus in ASEAN to test the feasibility of SAF output developed using alternative feedstock and technologies, as well as ground-breaking ATM initiatives supported by Airbus’ innovation teams,” Yap Mun Ching, Capital A Chief Sustainability Officer said.
“ As a regional carrier based in five ASEAN countries, we bring unparalleled operational experience in the region to complement Airbus’ technological expertise. The partnership establishes a foundation upon which to build joint projects at multiple levels that address the broad needs of improving the environmental performance of the sector,” she added.
Yap said the partnership directly addresses the prerogative for the aviation sector to invest in and scale up in-sector solutions that are critical to decarbonising the industry. Other than improvements in efficiency and adoption of SAF, she said a key pathway for AirAsia to achieve net zero by 2050 is by upgrading the airline’s fleet to the most fuel-efficient models.
In June, AirAsia took delivery of its first brand new A321neo aircraft since the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline will receive five more aircraft in the fourth quarter of the year for entry into service in Malaysia and Thailand. All Airbus aircraft deliveries to AirAsia starting 2024 will be fulfilled using a fuel blend inclusive of 5 percent SAF.
“Airbus is contributing to the decarbonisation of aviation around the world. That means working with our customers in every region, looking at all solutions available today and collaborating on research for future technologies,” Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer said.
AirAsia is a key partner in the ASEAN region and we are excited to work with the airline to explore operational efficiency levers, including air traffic management and scaling up the production and distribution of SAF.”
AirAsia currently holds an order for 361 units of the A321 model to meet the airline group’s fleet growth and replacement needs. By 2035, aircraft upgrades are expected to account for up to 10% reduction in AirAsia’s CO2 emissions compared to its 2019 baseline. Operational efficiencies and SAF are expected to deliver another 15% in reduction as the airline group charts its pathway towards net zero by 2050.
