Sustainability

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Airport expansion plans in Europe face scrutiny as governments struggle to balance growth with emissions reduction targets.

Europe’s Clean Aviation research program has announced funding for 19 projects totaling $760 million.

Greater focus on contrail mitigation could buy the aviation industry time to decarbonize, according to a new report by European eco-lobby Transport & Environment.

UK eyes sovereign HAPS network; airborne laser revival; contrail avoidance success.

Korean Air's current efficiency is weighed against how the airline's newly confirmed order will support its carbon-reduction goals.

Japan Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for CO₂ removal credits with Climeworks Solutions, which the companies say is the first such deal in the aviation sector.

Air France results from a large-scale trial aimed at preventing contrail formation conclude that flight operations can incorporate such measures.

Airports view solar power as a source of energy resilience, not just a means of reducing emissions and lowering electricity costs.

The research forms part of Clean Aviation’s goal to raise technology and certification readiness levels to 6 by 2030.

Hong Kong has set a target for sustainable aviation fuel to account for 1-3% of fuel consumption on flights departing Hong Kong International Airport by 2030.

EU allocates $497 million in SAF support to 130 operators, with Air France-KLM leading beneficiaries, as airlines claim allowances for 2025 operations.

Japan Airlines plans to apply drag-reducing riblets to more of its aircraft this year as part of continuing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

As a record-breaking European summer comes to a close, Carbon Analysis looks at the two largest leisure carriers in the region, Jet2 and TUI Group.

DSNA implemented a new procedure at Paris Orly Airport in 2025 to promote continuous descent operations in relatively dense traffic.

Carbon Analysis investigates how fluctuations in Airbus A380 utilization are affecting efficiency.

Flight training provider CAE has paused its electric propulsion conversion program for the Piper Archer trainer and is evaluating next steps.

Jet Zero Australia has secured A$30 million ($22 million) in funding and final development approval for its planned sustainable aviation fuel production facility.

Cathay Pacific and Google are expanding their partnership to scale up AI-powered contrail-avoidance system usage to reduce climate impact from contrails.

Singapore starts SAF levy for passengers in 2027, defers cargo levy to 2028, with proceeds funding sustainable aviation fuel procurement for departing flights.

Jeanne Longlune is a 2026 20 Twenties winner and a graduate student at the Technical University of Denmark. Her research focuses on enhancing space safety and sustainability through advanced computational methods for satellite reentry prediction.

The UK is negotiating with the European Union about linking their Emissions Trading Systems, both of which include aviation.

In line with Aviation Week’s AeroEngines Europe event in Lisbon this week, the Carbon Analysis turns its attention to some popular narrowbody engine types.

Katherine Lemke is a 2026 20 Twenties winner and an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech. Her innovative work focuses on advancing sustainable aviation and applied aerospace design through cutting-edge propulsion systems and autonomous vehicle technology.

WestJet has just completed retrofits on “densified” aircraft to reverse previously increased seating capacity; Carbon Analysis considers this effect and assesses WestJet’s overall efficiency.