Transcript: Our flightpath to net zero

Female V/O

"At British Airways we’re on our most important journey yet.

For more than 20 years we’ve led the aviation industry in tackling climate change.

Publicly reporting our environmental performance since 1992.

And since 2002, we were the first airline to participate in emissions trading and set ambitious climate targets.

Now, as part of our journey with BA Better World, we’re stepping up our programme to redouble our efforts towards our goal of net zero emissions.

 

At British Airways, we believe flying is magical.

But we recognise that flying comes at a cost, and that we need to take urgent action to tackle the impact it has on our planet.

 

As an industry, aviation is currently reliant on fossil fuels.

The low carbon solutions for aviation are more complex than for many other sectors.

 

But we believe our ambitious goal is achievable.

 

With short-term action already in place and development and innovation underway for medium and long-term solutions, we have a clear plan to deliver it.

It’s our 'Flightpath net zero':

• If no improvements are made to efficiency, then aviation’s carbon emissions would grow over time as demand for air travel increases.
• By investing in new aircraft, changing how we fly, and, in time, introducing new low- and zero-emission aircraft, we will deliver about a third of our emissions reductions by 2050.
• A further third of emission reductions will come from switching to sustainable aviation fuel, meeting about 50% of our fuel needs by 2050.
• The final third will come from robust carbon reductions and removals in other sectors.
• We’re also offering our customers the opportunity to fly carbon neutral today, which could mean together, we could reach our destination sooner.

 

We’re under no illusions, decarbonising aviation is a big challenge.

But we have a plan and we are already taking action.

In the short term, we are already:

• Investing in new aircraft that are up to 40% more fuel efficient than those they replace.

• Deploying technology and applying management focus to improve operational efficiency.
• Powering our main bases with 100% renewable electricity.
  So, aircraft on stand, and Mototok pushback tugs are fuelled by wind power.
• Offsetting the CO2 emissions of all our flights within the UK, meaning customers on domestic routes are travelling carbon neutral, and providing customers flying further afield the opportunity to offset their emissions through verified carbon reduction projects and sustainable aviation fuel.

 

For the medium term:

• We’re investing in first-of-a-kind Sustainable Aviation Fuel plants to scale up the availability of this drop-in replacement for fossil fuels.
• We’ve invested with Velocys, on a project in the north of England to build Europe’s first commercial plant that converts household waste into jet fuel.
• And we’ve invested with Lanzajet, for plants in the USA and in future the UK that will supply us with sustainable aviation fuel.

 

By 2030, we’ve committed as a group that 10% of our flights will be powered by sustainable aviation fuel.

 

For the long term, we’re already in action now.

Investing in research and innovation that will deliver solutions to truly decarbonise aviation such as;

• game-changing zero emissions aircraft
• hydrogen propulsion systems could be powering short-haul aircraft from 2035
• breakthrough scale-up of carbon capture technology
• And through our purchase of high-quality verified carbon reductions, we can direct vital funding into nature-based carbon removal projects that protect valuable ecosystems and biodiversity.

Together these short, medium and long term actions map our way for Flightpath net zero, our commitment to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

 

But, we cannot succeed alone.

• We’ll continue to encourage industry partners to play their part.
• We’ll need governments to create strong policies and incentives that enable our industry to decarbonise.
• And we’ll work with our customers to help them reduce their carbon footprints, as well as ours.

 

Although we know we have a long journey ahead, we’re not resting here.

We’ll keep our plan under review, seeking opportunities to act faster and deliver benefits sooner, because that’s what we believe our planet deserves.

 

Our Flightpath to net zero is part of our most important journey yet.

BA Better World."