Etihad Airways has stressed that it continues to make improvements in the fuel efficiency of its fleet, resulting in “substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and reinforcing the sustainability credentials of the airline”.
The airline’s dedicated fuel efficiency team drove numerous initiatives across all operational functions of the business, saving over 60,000 tonnes of fuel, according to a statement from Etihad.
This 2.5% improvement during 2016 amounts to nearly 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings, the equivalent of 1,200 flights between Abu Dhabi and London or the removal of over 40,000 cars from the road, the airline explained.
Fuel consumption is influenced by many factors, such as the aircraft and engine type, the weight being carried and the duration of the flight. The airline has said it is working on several key initiatives to optimise efficiency, both with the aircraft itself and through external collaboration with aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.
Richard Hill, COO, Etihad Airways, said: “There have been some encouraging results during 2016 and I’m delighted to see so many of our pilots fully engaged with the programme, as this has ensured additional learning opportunities and the identification of new measures that can deliver greater fuel savings in the years ahead.”
Reducing weight can be a vital part of fuel savings. In this regard, the airline has made efforts to reduce the weight of on-board items. A ‘weight out’ programme, which resulted in the removal or replacement of on-board items, led to a fuel burn reduction of 1,100 tonnes of fuel per year.
The airline is investing in new technology such as the ‘Boeing Wind Uplink’ scheme to ensure that flight crews have the latest information on weather patterns, allowing them to plan for the optimum fuel performance of their aircraft during flight. Fuel burn performance is negatively impacted by seasonal fog, requiring additional holding fuel to be carried. The airline is now collaborating with Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi to enable more accurate fog predictions.
Internally, continuous reviews to holding fuel policy have allowed for more accurate calculation of additional fuel requirements, using past data to ensure that adequate additional fuel requirements are met.
The environmental benefits are not only substantial but the efficiency improvement in 2016 compared to 2015 exceeds the emissions reduction goal that the industry has set itself, currently a 1.5% efficiency improvement across international aviation. By going beyond this, Etihad Airways is also contributing to carbon-neutral growth targets and the “ultimate long-term goal” - for emissions to be 50% of the 2005 levels by 2050.
