Airbus, ACI World Sign Partnership for Sustainability Push

ACI World director general and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira and Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher sign a cooperation agreement.

ACI World director general and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira and Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher sign a cooperation agreement.

Credit: ACI World/Airbus

Airbus has signed a cooperation agreement with airports association ACI World to support collective sustainability efforts. 

The partnership will focus on areas such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen technologies, advanced air mobility, operations efficiency, and aircraft noise management.

Through collaboration, the partners plan to exchange information, communicate industry progress, develop guidance materials, and potentially create unified positions on policies and standards to achieve industry targets.

“By combining our technological expertise with ACI World’s vast network and operational insights, we aim to influence policies and standards that support sustainable aviation and drive industry-wide innovation,” Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher said. “Together, we can create a cohesive and aligned approach to achieving our decarbonization targets and enhancing the sustainability of the global aviation sector.”

ACI World director general and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira said the agreement marks a “pivotal step” in the aviation industry’s efforts towards carbon net zero by 2025.

“This strategic alliance underscores the unwavering commitment of airports worldwide to sustainable aviation, ensuring that we not only reduce our environmental impact but also maximize the socio-economic benefits of air travel,” he added.

Airbus already has a similar partnership with ACI World’s sister organization ACI Europe. The agreement with ACI Europe began two years ago and has focused on the deployment of alternative energies including hydrogen and SAF.

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David Casey

David Casey is Editor in Chief of Routes, the global route development community's trusted source for news and information.

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