A newly released survey of global aviation decision makers from six countries, including the UAE, found that 88% of aviation organizations have sustainability strategies in place and that nearly three-quarters said these strategies were having a major or moderate impact on how their companies operate and invest.

 

These results are no surprise for those following sustainability developments in the Middle East aviation sector, which was praised just last week by the head of the International Air Transport Association for being “among the more advanced” when it came to sustainability. 

 

A clear example of this was the historic flight by Emirates Airlines earlier this year that was the first in the Middle East to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to power one of the plane’s two jet engines. The Boeing 777-300ER was powered by GE Aerospace GE90 engines.

 

As well, Etihad Airways is pushing progress through its Greenliner Program, which trials new technologies that tackle key sustainability issues in aviation, including SAF flight testing.

 

The global aviation survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of GE Aerospace, revealed that meeting the industry’s sustainability goal was currently the top challenge, surpassing supply chain and labor issues. This reflected the global industry’s broader sustainability commitment to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

 

The commitments by the aviation sector in the region to begin implementing sustainability practices and conducting SAF test flights reflects their understanding of the serious challenge to meeting the 2050 net-zero goal and urgency to make progress now. 

 

The GE Aerospace survey determined that 46% believe the industry will meet that goal, while 32% say it will not, and 22% are unsure. On average, respondents believe the target will be met by 2055 and identify rising costs, budgetary pressure, supply issues, and energy resources as the biggest hurdles. 

 

Illustrating that government support for sustainable aviation is not only a Middle East priority, the survey said that globally, 29% of respondents identified government as the external group applying the most pressure to accelerate sustainability.

 

When it comes to government actions to support sustainability progress in the industry 61% preferred incentives and policy support over mandates and regulation. 

 

Respondents ranked increased SAF investment as the number one most important role for government to play in reaching the 2050 goal.

 

“These results show that the aviation industry is committed to the goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, while also recognizing the need to accelerate efforts and ensure all key stakeholders are on the playing field,” said Allen Paxson, A newly released survey of global aviation decision makers from six countries, including the UAE, found that 88% of aviation organizations have sustainability strategies in place and that nearly three-quarters said these strategies were having a major or moderate impact on how their companies operate and invest.

 

These results are no surprise for those following sustainability developments in the Middle East aviation sector, which was praised just last week by the head of the International Air Transport Association for being “among the more advanced” when it came to sustainability. 

 

A clear example of this was the historic flight by Emirates Airlines earlier this year that was the first in the Middle East to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to power one of the plane’s two jet engines. The Boeing 777-300ER was powered by GE Aerospace GE90 engines.

 

As well, Etihad Airways is pushing progress through its Greenliner Program, which trials new technologies that tackle key sustainability issues in aviation, including SAF flight testing.

 

The global aviation survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of GE Aerospace, revealed that meeting the industry’s sustainability goal was currently the top challenge, surpassing supply chain and labor issues. This reflected the global industry’s broader sustainability commitment to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

 

The commitments by the aviation sector in the region to begin implementing sustainability practices and conducting SAF test flights reflects their understanding of the serious challenge to meeting the 2050 net-zero goal and urgency to make progress now. 

 

The GE Aerospace survey determined that 46% believe the industry will meet that goal, while 32% say it will not, and 22% are unsure. On average, respondents believe the target will be met by 2055 and identify rising costs, budgetary pressure, supply issues, and energy resources as the biggest hurdles. 

 

Illustrating that government support for sustainable aviation is not only a Middle East priority, the survey said that globally, 29% of respondents identified government as the external group applying the most pressure to accelerate sustainability.

 

When it comes to government actions to support sustainability progress in the industry 61% preferred incentives and policy support over mandates and regulation. 

 

Respondents ranked increased SAF investment as the number one most important role for government to play in reaching the 2050 goal.

 

“These results show that the aviation industry is committed to the goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, while also recognizing the need to accelerate efforts and ensure all key stakeholders are on the playing field,” said Allen Paxson, Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Programs Strategy, GE Aerospace.

 

“With GE Aerospace and our partner engines powering three-quarters of the world’s flights, we recognize the important responsibility we have to meet the industry ramp and do so more sustainably and more efficiently for our customers.”

 

GE Aerospace began testing SAF in 2007, and today, all GE Aerospace and partner engines can run on approved SAF blends. The company, its customers, and partners invested $2 billion in 2022 in aviation research and development. 

 

CFM, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran, targets a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions in one generation compared to current engines through its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program. 

 

GE Aerospace is also collaborating with NASA and Boeing to develop a megawatt-class hybrid electric powertrain as part of its Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project. CFM also plans to develop a hydrogen combustion engine for ground and flight tests with Airbus.

 

Read more here about how GE Aerospace supports sustainability across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye region. President and General Manager of Commercial Programs Strategy, GE Aerospace.

 

“With GE Aerospace and our partner engines powering three-quarters of the world’s flights, we recognize the important responsibility we have to meet the industry ramp and do so more sustainably and more efficiently for our customers.”

 

GE Aerospace began testing SAF in 2007, and today, all GE Aerospace and partner engines can run on approved SAF blends. The company, its customers, and partners invested $2 billion in 2022 in aviation research and development. 

 

CFM, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran, targets a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions in one generation compared to current engines through its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program. 

 

GE Aerospace is also collaborating with NASA and Boeing to develop a megawatt-class hybrid electric powertrain as part of its Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project. CFM also plans to develop a hydrogen combustion engine for ground and flight tests with Airbus.

 

Read more here about how GE Aerospace supports sustainability across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye region.