Environmentally Responsible Air Travel

Our Commitment to the Environment

The NACC’s member airlines are committed to environmentally responsible air travel and have been global leaders in their efforts to improve fuel efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable aviation fuels.  For more details on the efforts and investment our members are undertaking to protect the environment, please see their respective websites.

 

Reducing Emissions

 

Passenger air travel accounts for approximately 2% of all fossil fuel-related emissions worldwide.  While this is a small part of the overall GHG-emission picture, we recognize the need to reduce emissions from aviation through initiatives such as Canada’s Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aviation and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel Efficiency

The NACC’s members have employed a number of methods to make fuel efficiency improvements.  As reported under Canada’s Action Plan to reduce emissions from aviation, between 2005 and 2018, Canadian aviation improved its fuel efficiency by 20.0% mostly from air carrier investments in fleet renewals and upgrades.  Our members continue to invest in their respective fleet renewal programs, which will continue to introduce new more efficient aircraft into their fleets.

The carriers also continue to institute policies and procedures that impact their operations by either improving efficiency or reducing fuel burn. These usually fall into the following categories:

  • Aircraft modifications and maintenance
  • Aircraft operation
  • Cargo and Baggage Operations
  • In flight/catering
  • Ground equipment operations.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

 
Aviation jet fuel derived from fossil fuels is a type of kerosene (a distilled petroleum product invented by a Canadian). While the fuel burns quite efficiently compared to other fossil-based transportation fuels, it is still responsible for GHG emissions (approximately 2% of global emissions).
 
Great advances are being made in the move toward a carbon-neutral aviation fuel, with ongoing tests of sustainable aviation  fuel made from  various sources such as waste and purpose-grown plants which do not compete with food.  NACC supports measures to encourage the domestic production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

Competitive Air Travel

Supporting and implementing an efficient operating and cost framework for Canada’s air carriers is essential to the economic well-being of our communities.