SkyTeam announces shortlisted airline innovations in The Aviation Challenge 2024

• 3^rd annual initiative focused on scaling previously generated solutions

• Competition included non-SkyTeam affiliated airlines for the first time
  
  AMSTERDAM, 19 December 2024 – SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, has challenged airlines through The Aviation Challenge (TAC) for a third consecutive year. Whilst previous challenges explored innovative solutions to reduce aviation’s operational impacts, this year the focus shifted toward adopting, scaling, and implementing initiatives to help improve sustainability progress.

   

  This year’s Challenge, the largest to date, welcomed newest SkyTeam members SAS and Virgin Atlantic and non-affiliated carriers, Corendon Dutch Airlines and TUI. Expanding the scope to include non-member airlines for the first time marked a significant milestone, highlighting the inclusive spirit of TAC.

   

  Between 23 January and 31 October 2024, airlines completed 33 showcase flights and submitted 327 innovative solutions. SkyTeam tasked the 24 participating airlines with adopting and rolling out at scale some of the 450+ sustainability ideas generated in past challenges. These included: optimizing onboard services to reduce waste to 62g per passenger versus an industry average of 1.43kg; greater use of electric ground support equipment (e-GSE) and using eco-piloting strategies to increase fuel efficiency.

All entries were rigorously assessed against a comprehensive set of technical criteria by a panel of aviation and sustainability experts, including the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR). Finalists have been recognized across three main categories, each with subcategories to recognize their achievements. Full details of the finalists are provided in the ‘Notes to Editors’ section. Highlights include:

The winners in each category will be announced at an awards event to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 13-16 January 2025, hosted by Saudia Airlines.

-ENDS-

Notes for editors
The complete list of The Aviation Challenge finalists is below. For more detailed information on the initiatives, please visit the airlines websites.


ADVANCING ADOPTION

• Best Scaled Cargo Solution:

  • Vietnam Airlines – Lightweight unit load devices (ULD) and e-AWBs, scaled across 10,000 flights.

  • Air Europa – Lightweight aluminium containers, reducing weight by 15 kg per container.

  • SAS – Recycled cardboard pallet planks, weighing 80% less than wooden alternatives, reducing 37 tons of CO₂ emissions in 2024.

• Best Scaled Inflight Solution:

  • Aeromexico – Bluetooth-enabled inflight entertainment, eliminating disposable headphone waste.

  • Delta Air Lines – First-of-its-kind onboard paper cup, saving over 3 million kg of plastic annually.

  • KLM – Sustainable staff sneakers, scaled across operations for enhanced well-being.

• Best Scaled FlightOps Solution:

  • SAS – Fleet-wide fuel efficiency program, focusing on the most efficient flight paths to reduce emissions.

  • TUI – Optimized flight management using high-resolution weather data.

  • Air Europa – Real-time dynamic flight path adjustments to maximize efficiency and reduce fuel burn.

• Best Scaled GroundOps Solution:

  • Air France – Electrification of 70% of ground service equipment (GSE), aiming for 100% by 2030.

  • KLM Cityhopper – Using 69% electrified ground equipment for reduced-emissions operations.

  • Saudia Airlines – GSE movement optimization platform to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

• Best Scaled Catering Solution:

  • TUI – Reusable inflight service equipment, reducing single-use plastics by 97% and CO₂ emissions by 87 tonnes.

  • Kenya Airways – Traditional African bread baskets replacing single-use plastic.

  • Shanghai Airlines – Lightweight trays reducing fuel consumption by 22.31 tons.

• Best Scaled MRO Solution:

  • Air France – EcoPower engine wash program, reducing CO₂ emissions and hazardous waste.

  • KLM Cityhopper – Increased engine washing program applied across the entire fleet.

  • Xiamen Air – Engine core compressor washing to optimize fleet-wide performance and reduce emissions.

Engine washing removes deposits and contaminates, helping increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

BOOSTING COLLABORATION

• Best Customer Collaboration:

  • JamboJet – Introduced sustainability initiatives, including organic menus, seedling distribution and quizzes.

  • SAS – Scandinavian collaboration through social media and passenger engagement.

  • Air Europa – "Flight 2030 – Engage to Reduce" campaign, encouraging passengers to reduce their environmental footprint.

• Best Team Collaboration:

  • Garuda Indonesia – "Zero Waste to Zero Emissions" initiative - an educational program to raise awareness and understanding of waste management practices across the Garuda Indonesia group.

  • China Airlines – "Getting Everyone Involved" initiative, showcasing cross-departmental collaboration.

  • Kenya Airways – Sustainability champions program empowering cross-departmental collaboration.

• Best Partnership:

  • KLM – Partnership with GE Aerospace on engine water wash program.

  • TUI – Zero Carbon Turn Project, applying hydrogen power to ground operations at Exeter Airport.

  • Air Europa Express – Zero-emission ground operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport, using fully e-GSE powered by renewable fuel sources.

• Best Knowledge-Sharing Contribution:

  • Virgin Atlantic – Flight100 campaign with publicly available insights and knowledge-sharing calls.

  • KLM Cityhopper – Innovation ecosystem supporting airline-wide participation.

  • China Eastern – Knowledge-sharing articles with 50,000 page views.

EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY

• Sustainable Supply Chain Excellence:

  • Air Europa – Sustainability practices across the supply chain, optimizing resources and reducing environmental impact.

  • KLM – CO₂ pricing in supply chain tenders.

  • KLM Cityhopper – Supply chain objectives for reducing plastic and emissions.

• Best Approach to Scaling SAF:

  • Kenya Airways – Supporting local SAF production, scaling efforts from their previous Innovation Award.

  • KLM Cityhopper – SAF Boarding Zone program, increasing SAF sales by 47%.

  • Korean Air – First Korean airline to fly with domestically produced SAF.

• Best Climate Literacy:

  • China Airlines – Adoption of TCFD for climate-related risk management.

  • Kenya Airways – Multi-level sustainability training programs.

  • TUI – Employee training and engagement to enhance climate literacy.

• Best Approach to Roles & Responsibilities:

  • TUI – Sustainability Community embedding environmental responsibility.

  • KLM Cityhopper – Gedion Gang concept for scalable team leadership.

  • Delta Air Lines – Carbon Council and sustainability-focused KPIs across operational divisions.

• Data & Insights Pioneer:

  • Virgin Atlantic – Contrail forecasting model using advanced technologies.

  • KLM – Integration of ESG data into financial systems.

  • Tarom – Fuel efficiency improvement software.

• Future Proofing Strategies:

  • TUI – Contrail avoidance initiative addressing non-CO₂ impacts across a phased trial analysing 160 scheduled flights and based on the prevailing conditions.

  • China Airlines – Comprehensive 2050 Net Zero Carbon strategy that decreased direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1) and indirect GHG emissions from customer transportation (Scope 3) by approximately 72 metric tons of CO2e in total.

  • KLM – Zero Emission Aviation program. A feasibility study commissioned in 2022 and executed with involvement of industry experts, knowledge institutes, industry reports and use of databases.