United Airlines, the world’s third largest carrier, has created a dedicated investment vehicle to support start-up businesses focused on sustainable aviation fuel. The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund is designed to help accelerate research, production and technologies linked to SAF, the main and most available means to reduce flight carbon emissions. The fund has been launched with more than $100 million in investments from Boeing, GE Aerospace, aero technology company Honeywell and global finance house JP Morgan Chase, as well as Air Canada, a key member, with United, of the Star Alliance airline group. United has also refined its booking website and app to show customers the estimated carbon footprint of flights they are considering and provide options for them to contribute to the new fund.

“This is unique,” commented Scott Kirby, United’s CEO, on the Sustainable Flight Fund. “It’s not about offsets or things that are just greenwashing. We’re creating a system that drives investment to build a new industry around sustainable aviation fuel, essentially from scratch. That’s the only way we can actually decarbonise aviation.”  

United says it aims to be “100% green” by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions “100% by 2050”, without the use of conventional carbon offsets, which Kirby has long rejected as ineffective in cutting aviation’s carbon emissions.

The airline’s technology investment vehicle, United Airlines Ventures (UAV), has backed 11 companies including emerging SAF producers, manufacturers of zero emission aircraft or propulsion systems, and a battery business focused on electrifying airport ground equipment and future electric aircraft.

Some SAF-related investments will be moved from UAV to the new platform to kick-start its portfolio. United has committed to the future production of 3 billion gallons of SAF, “the most of any airline in the world,” and equivalent to the 2030 baseline production goal set by the US government in its SAF Grand Challenge programme.

“United has already made investments in or signed purchase agreements with companies using a variety of ingredients and technologies to produce SAF, including feedstocks like ethanol, animal by-products, forestry and crop waste, and municipal waste, as well as early-stage, promising technologies like synthetic biology and power-to-liquids,” the airline said. “The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund is open to investment by corporations across industries and the fund will prioritise investment in new technology, advanced fuel sources and proven producers, all in an effort to scale the supply of SAF.”

UAV has already supported five emergent SAF producers: Fulcrum Bioenergy, which is converting landfill waste to fuel; Alder Fuels, which will use biomass feedstock; Cemvita and Dimensional Energy, which will convert carbon dioxide to SAF; and Next Renewable Fuels, which recycles organic waste including used cooking oil.

As well as inviting more corporations to participate in the new investment fund, United is also looking to its passengers for support, becoming the first US carrier to highlight the indicative carbon footprint of every flight searched on the airline’s website or booking app, and providing the option for customers to contribute to the SAF fund as part of the booking process, with contribution levels set at $1.00, a default price of $3.50, and $7.00.

“Green shading will indicate a lower-carbon option on a per-economy seat passenger basis in a customer’s chosen itinerary,” the airline explained. “A flight’s carbon footprint is measured in kg CO2e – kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent – and United’s estimates, which could differ from actual flight emissions, are based on aircraft type, flying time, seat capacity and the number of people and cargo on a given flight.

“The default option for customer contributions is set at $3.50 to illustrate the potential impact of customer action at scale. If the 152 million people who flew on United in 2022 each contributed just $3.50 to the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, that would be enough to design and build a SAF refinery capable of producing as much as 40 million gallons of alternative fuel annually.”

In addition to SAF producers, UAV has invested in Swedish electric aircraft start-up Heart Aerospace, air taxi manufacturers Archer Aviation and Eve Air Mobility, and hydrogen-electric powertrain manufacturer ZeroAvia, whose prototype engine is now being flight tested in the UK. Late last year, it invested in US-based battery manufacturer Natron Energy, a company with potential to help United electrify airport ground equipment, including airside tractors, and future electric aircraft such as air taxis.  

United also operates the Eco-Skies Alliance, a SAF corporate purchasing programme.

Photo: United Airlines

Airbus and Air Canada are to invest in Canadian direct air carbon capture (DACC) company Carbon Engineering to help fund R&D technologies at its Innovation Centre in British Columbia. DACC technology involves capturing CO2 emissions directly from the air using high-powered fans. Once removed from the air, the CO2 can be used to produce power-to-liquid sustainable aviation fuel or can be permanently stored in geologic reservoirs. The investment follows a move announced in July by Airbus and seven airline groups, including Air Canada, to explore opportunities for a future supply of carbon removal credits from DACC technology and negotiate the pre-purchase of credits issued by 1PointFive, the global deployment partner of Carbon Engineering. Meanwhile, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a first EU-wide voluntary framework to reliably certify high-quality carbon removals. While GHG emissions reduction is the first and most urgent priority, the Commission says carbon removals will be needed to compensate for residual emissions that cannot be eliminated in hard-to-abate sectors.

This is particularly the case for aviation with its net zero emissions by 2050 goal as under any future scenario the industry cannot capture all CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere at source. The investment in Carbon Engineering (CE) is a key part of its global climate strategy, said Airbus, to encourage the development and deployment of DACC technology among a number of technological pathways.

“We are proud to be investing in Carbon Engineering, reaffirming our commitment to the use of direct air capture as a two-fold solution for the decarbonisation of the aviation industry,” said Karine Guenan, VP ZEROe Ecosystem, Airbus.

Added Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau: “We remain focused on seeking innovative, long-term, sustainable GHG emissions reduction solutions for aviation, and carbon capture is one we have outlined in our strategy to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Last year, we became the first Canadian airline to sign an MoU with CE to explore carbon capture scalability and other initiatives for our industry.”

CE was founded in Calgary, Canada, in 2009 and following years of prototyping and technology research and development, moved in 2015 to Squamish, BC, to build an operational pilot plant that produced a first batch of synthetic fuel in 2017. In partnership with 1PointFive, a development company formed by Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, a first commercial large-scale DACC facility, located in the US Permian Basin, is expected to capture one million tons of CO2 from the air annually when completed, which will be stored deep underground in geological formations. In the UK, in partnership with Storegga, engineering has begun on a DACC facility that is being designed to permanently remove between 500,000 and one million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.

In March this year, 1PointFive sold 400,000 tonnes of carbon removals credits from the planned US DACC facility to Airbus. Under the agreement, Airbus pre-purchased the capture and permanent sequestration of 100,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year for four years, with an option to secure more volume in the future.

In July, Airbus, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, easyJet, International Airlines Group, LATAM Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group and Virgin Atlantic signed Letters of Intent “to explore opportunities” for a future supply of carbon removal credits from DACC technology. As part of the agreements, the airlines committed “to engage in negotiations on the possible pre-purchase of verified and durable carbon removal credits starting in 2025 through to 2028.” The credits will be issued by 1PointFive.

“We are already seeing strong interest from airlines to explore affordable and scalable carbon removals,” said Julie Kitcher, EVP Communications and Corporate Affairs, Airbus.

As well as direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), other industrial technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can capture carbon and store it permanently. In agriculture and forestry, carbon farming practices can sustainably enhance the storage of carbon in soils and forests or reduce the release of carbon from soils.

The proposal by the European Commission for an EU-wide voluntary certification framework for carbon removals is intended to boost innovative carbon removal technologies and sustainable carbon farming solutions, and contribute to the EU’s climate neutrality by 2050 goal.

“The proposed regulation will significantly improve the EU’s capacity to quantify, monitor and verify carbon removals,” it said. “Higher transparency will ensure trust from stakeholders and industry, and prevent greenwashing. Carbon removals can and must bring clear benefits for the climate, and the Commission will prioritise those carbon removal activities that will provide significant benefits for biodiversity. Moving forward, the Commission, supported by experts, will develop tailored certification methods for carbon removal activities delivering on climate and other environmental objectives.”

The proposal sets out rules for the independent verification of carbon removals, as well as rules to recognise certification schemes that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the EU framework. The proposed regulation establishes four ‘QU.A.L.ITY’ criteria:

• Quantification – Carbon removal activities need to be measured accurately and deliver unambiguous benefits for the climate;
• Additionality – Carbon removal activities need to go beyond existing practices and what is required by law;
• Long-term storage – Certificates are linked to the duration of carbon storage so as to ensure permanent storage; and
• Sustainability – Carbon removal activities must preserve or contribute to sustainability objectives such as climate change adaptation, circular economy, water and marine resources, and biodiversity.

The Commission says carbon removal certificates can be used by private or public sources, including markets such as the CORSIA offsetting scheme for international aviation carbon emissions.

The proposal will now be discussed by the European Parliament and Council, in line with ordinary legislative procedure. The first meeting of the expert group – intended to consist of 70 members from academia, industry, civil society, competent authorities, public entities and carbon removal specialists – is planned for the first quarter of 2023.

Photo: The Carbon Engineering Innovation Centre in Squamish, British Columbia

Swedish electric aircraft pioneer Heart Aerospace has ditched its initial 19-seat ES-19 design in favour of an all-new 30-seat version with increased range and capacity. The ES-30 features a reserve-hybrid engine powered by sustainable aviation fuel, to provide extra energy or extended range without relying solely on battery power. Existing ES-19 customers United Airlines and Mesa Air Group have upgraded their 200 orders and 100 options to the larger ES-30, while Air Canada has announced purchase orders for 30 and Swedish aircraft leasing company Rockton has signed letters of intent for another 40. As well, Air Canada and the veteran Swedish aerospace company Saab have become minority shareholders in Heart, each investing $5 million. In the US, e-aircraft company Eviation has secured an LOI from Miami’s Global Crossing Airlines Group for 50 nine-seat Alice electric aircraft, whose prototype is set to make its maiden flight next month. Meanwhile, a study by Distrelec has identified Nordic routes with the highest potential for carbon emission reductions from electric flights.

The Heart ES-30 will feature three-abreast seating, a galley and a lavatory, as well as a large external baggage and cargo compartment, exploiting improved zero-emission propulsion technologies to offer higher payloads and longer-range missions than previously anticipated for the first generation of electric commuter craft. It will offer a fully-electric range of 200 kilometres, an extended range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers, and the ability to fly as far as 800 kilometres with 25 passengers.

“The ES-30 is an electric airplane that the industry can actually use,” said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, highlighting the greater utility of the larger variant, which will be assembled in Gothenburg, Sweden. “We have designed a cost-effective airplane that allows airlines to deliver good service on a wide range of routes. With the ES-30 we can start cutting emissions from air travel well before the end of this decade, and the response from the market has been fantastic.”

As well as being a Heart Aerospace customer, United Airlines is also an investor. “From the beginning, Heart and United have been on the same page with an acute focus on safety, reliability and sustainability,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Heart’s exciting new design, which includes expanded passenger capacity from 19 to 30 seats, and a state-of-the-art reserve-hybrid engine, is the type of revolutionary thinking that will bring true innovation to aviation.”

Michael Rousseau, CEO of new customer and investor Air Canada, added: “We have been working hard with much success to reduce our footprint, but we know that meeting our net zero emissions goals will require new technology such as the ES-30.”

Saab’s new CEO Micael Johansson said his company’s investment in Heart “underlines our commitment to innovative technology and solutions for sustainable aviation. Heart is a pioneer within commercial electric aviation and we look forward to contributing to the future of aviation with our experience of developing solutions at the forefront of technology.” 

Other investors in Heart Aerospace include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, EQT Ventures, European Investment Council, Lower Carbon Capital, Mesa Air Group and United Airlines Ventures.

In addition to firm orders for the new aircraft and the letter of intent from Rockton, Heart Aerospace said many operators that previously signed LOIs for the ES-19 had now upgraded to the ES-30, among them Braathens Regional Airlines, Icelandair, SAS and New Zealand’s Sounds Air. There are now 96 LOIs for the ES-30, which is expected to enter commercial service in 2028 as a zero-emission replacement for existing fossil-fuelled aircraft or to accommodate regional growth.

Its launch coincides with a soaring and competing trend to retrofit older commuter planes with new electric or hydrogen propulsion systems, for which significant orders have been secured by start-ups including ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen, both well-backed by major industry players and venture capital investors.

In another electric aircraft development, Miami-based Global Crossing Airlines Group, trading as GlobalX, has signed a letter of intent to acquire 50 all-electric Alice aircraft from US-based Eviation, for delivery from 2027. The inaugural test flight of the Alice prototype is expected to occur next month.

“We plan to offer the aircraft to our cruise line, tour operators, leisure travel providers and business clients with a need for short-haul charter flights across Florida,” said GlobalX CEO Ed Wegel. “The Alice aircraft will allow us to offer sustainable regional flights to and from major markets and is the first step in our initiative to be a zero-carbon emissions airline by 2050.” As well as flights within Florida, GlobalX says the nine-seat aircraft will open opportunities for new passenger routes in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The company is also evaluating a cargo version of the aircraft, which has also been ordered by freight giant DHL.

In Europe, the electronics and automation group Distrelec has completed a study of flights operating in Nordic countries to identify which markets have the most potential for electric-powered flights. It identified routes in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland, which, if converted to zero emission aircraft, could eliminate a combined total of more than 61,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per month, equivalent to 773 aircraft each with a maximum take-off weight of 79,000 kilograms – roughly equivalent to an Airbus A320neo.

The study found that Norway had the greatest potential to reduce flight carbon emissions, with up to 29,038 tonnes likely to be eliminated each month through deployment of electric aircraft, followed by Sweden with 17,260 tonnes, Finland with 6,264, Denmark with 4,177, Greenland with 2,390, and Iceland with 1,994.

Norway’s Oslo-Trondheim air route was identified by Distrelec as the biggest contributor to aircraft carbon emissions in the surveyed markets, with 709 monthly flights averaging 58 kilograms per passenger, while Finland’s Helsinki-Oulu route, while less flown with an average 264 monthly departures, produced the highest CO2 emissions per passenger, averaging 72 kilograms.

The study also assessed 10 regional international routes originating in Nordic countries, which it estimated produced a collective 17,100.5 tonnes of CO2 per month, or 205,206 annually, the equivalent of 2,597 aircraft with a 79,000-kilogram maximum take-off weight.

Image: Heart Aerospace ES-30 in Air Canada livery

Air Canada has become the latest North American major carrier to make a long-term climate change commitment to achieve a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions throughout its global operations by 2050. It has set a mid-term 20% net reduction target by 2030 in its air operations and a 30% net reduction from ground operations compared to a 2019 baseline. To help achieve the goals, the airline says it will invest C$50 million ($40m) in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other low-carbon aviation fuel development. This will include evaluating practical applications of renewable energy sources such as biogas and renewable electricity and energy transition measures. As well, the airline will investigate long-term carbon reduction and removal solutions, including exploring carbon negative emission technologies. Air Canada says it expects to further develop its carbon offset strategy for compliance with the sector’s CORSIA scheme as well as its customer offsetting programme.

“Despite the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we remain deeply committed to long-term sustainability,” said Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau. “Climate change is critical, and we believe we can and must do more to address this for the future of our environment. This is why we are further embedding climate considerations into our strategic decision-making, and undertaking a very ambitious plan that is meaningful, will support Canada’s leadership position on climate change and advance decarbonisation in the airline industry, while keeping fares affordable for customers.”

In addition to focusing on SAF and carbon reduction and removal technologies, the airline said it would continue to evaluate the viability, safety and performance of new electric, hydrogen and hybrid operational technologies, as well as other innovations in short-haul transportation such as electric drones “to complement and support Air Canada’s global business network.”

Fleetwise, Air Canada is deploying new Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft, which it said are 20% more fuel efficient per seat than the aircraft they are replacing, so emitting 20% less CO2 and 50% less nitrogen oxides than the aircraft they are replacing. Airbus A220 deliveries first started in late 2019 and are due to extend to 2022. Climate factors are being integrated into route and fleet planning, it adds, and on the ground the airline is phasing out carbon-intensive ground equipment, adding electric vehicles and other opportunities for electrification.

From 2016 to 2019, the airline reports it reduced more than 135,000 tonnes of GHG emissions from air operations through fuel efficiency measures. Air Canada’s latest sustainability report (2019) says fuel efficiency improved by 19% between 2009 and 2019, and the airline was on course to meet the industry’s average annual 1.5% fuel efficiency improvement target by the end of 2020. However, it admits, fuel efficiency did not reach expectations in 2019 because of unplanned changes in the fleet, in particular due to the grounding of the 737 MAX, which led to aircraft flying different routes than were planned and less efficient aircraft being kept longer.

Air Canada is actively supporting the development of SAF in Canada and has so far participated in eight biofuel flights. Through the National Airline Council of Canada, it is engaged in fuel policy discussions on the treatment of jet fuel to develop supportive policies under Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard. In 2019, it joined BC-SMART, a consortium of refineries, government, the Vancouver Airport Authority, airlines and other, to explore and encourage regional production of sustainable biofuels. Air Canada is the lead airline on Canada’s Biojet Supply Chain Initiative, a project to identify and solve supply logistics barriers that arise when SAFs are introduced at major Canadian airports.

The airline was one of the first to offer customers and employees the opportunity to purchase offsets for their flights. Its partner Less Emissions offers high-quality Gold Standard and CSA Standard certified offsets.

Air Canada said further details on its climate plan would be released soon.

Photo: Air Canada A220

While there is no evidence that a pandemic of zoonotic origin, such as Covid-19, has been linked to air transport, the aviation sector can play an important part in mitigating the risk of future disease events and pandemics by strengthening efforts to combat animal smuggling, says a report produced for ROUTES, an international group of agencies and transport industry representatives fighting wildlife trafficking. Based solely on public reporting, around 50 high zoonotic risk trafficking instances are identified every year across the world. The report details identification methods and other recommendations for the industry and government agencies to follow. Meanwhile, Air Canada has become the first North American airline to attain illegal wildlife trade certification by IATA.

Within air transport, live animals and meat products from domesticated and wild species engender the most significant risk of zoonotic spillover – the transfer of a pathogen from the original host to either humans or another species (see graphic below) –  and illicit supply chains constitute a potential vector through which a zoonotic disease could mutate to infect humans.

“Smugglers exploit the speed and efficiency of air travel and air cargo to transport animals and animal products, often bringing different species in close proximity for long periods of time,” said Ben Spevack, Senior Analyst at C4ADS and author of the report ‘Animal Smuggling in Air Transport and Preventing Zoonotic Spillover’. “This illicit activity circumvents animal safety requirements around health examinations, vaccinations or quarantine, creating extremely favourable conditions for zoonotic disease spillover.”

Around 800,000 pathogens and microorganisms linked to emerging infectious diseases currently exist in animals, including 500 new coronavirus strains identified in bats alone. Birds are known to carry over 60 different zoonotic diseases. The World Organisation for Animal Health estimates three new infectious diseases emerge from animals every year. A disease that crosses the animal-human interface can evolve into one that is transmitted from human to human (or from human to animal). The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the destructive potential of zoonotic spillover, says the report, and the frequency, severity and financial impacts of zoonotic disease events are growing.

“Understanding the vectors for zoonotic disease – and, by extension, the dangers of illicit animal shipments – is fundamental for designing effective zoonotic disease mitigation policies and protocols,” advises Spevack in the report.

He notes the aviation industry has measures in place to ensure safe transit of humans and goods through the proper channels. “While such regimes can strongly reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover within regulated animal trade, illicit flows of animals or animal products circumvent these measures,” he points out.

“Given the nature of illicit supply chains – the introduction of species into new geographies, the consolidation of multiple species in close quarters, the stress-induced suppression of animals’ immune systems and the lack of mitigation measures such as pathogen surveillance testing – the continuation of animal smuggling along air routes is a factor in increasing the likelihood of future disease outbreaks.

“However, the aviation sector, working in partnership with enforcement authorities, conservation stakeholders, and the scientific community, has the opportunity to help reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover. Collaboration with traditional counter-wildlife trafficking stakeholders and awareness informed by analysis of animal smuggling can decrease the risk of public health crises.

“As air transport stakeholders recover from the impacts of Covid-19, it is important that future pandemic prevention programmes include counter-animal smuggling initiatives as a key risk mitigation activity.”

The report offers a number of recommendations to airlines, airports and enforcement authorities, based on capacity and role. All stakeholders should incorporate zoonotic spillover considerations into counter-animal smuggling protocols and practices, and coordinate activities related to countering wildlife trafficking with animal health authorities to minimise the risk of animal disease. It advises airlines and airports to increase proactive passenger awareness measures on the public health risks of animal smuggling. They should also inform aviation policies and practices on counter-smuggling and zoonotic spillover mitigation initiatives with data on trends in smuggling of animals and animal products.

Enforcement authorities are encouraged to increase public reporting on seizures, increase incentives among law enforcement for interdiction of illicit shipments and monitor the development of automated detection and other emerging technologies to build capacity to identify illicit animals or animal products in airport screening systems.

The report was produced by C4ADS (the Center for Advanced Defense Studies), a non-profit focusing on analysis and reporting on global conflict and transnational security issues, as part of the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership.

“Faced with the current health crisis caused by the novel Covid-19 virus, the world and the aviation sector are unfortunately grappling with the turmoil that zoonotic diseases can pose. Understanding of air transport’s risk from animal smuggling could be instrumental in reducing global vulnerability,” commented Michelle Owen, Routes’ Lead. “Comprehensive training and protocols are already being adopted by airports, airlines and enforcement agencies to combat wildlife trafficking. These efforts can help mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.”

As well as C4ADS, partners to ROUTES include wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, WWF and trade bodies Airports Council International (ACI) and IATA.

“The current crisis has highlighted the global need to better understand what factors can increase the risk of zoonotic disease occurrence. ACI joined the fight against wildlife trafficking in 2016 and supports the United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration signatory airports and ROUTES partners to combat wildlife trafficking. Airports can integrate wildlife conservation initiatives into their sustainability umbrella, helping to protect biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, stability and global health,” said Juliana Scavuzzi, Senior Manager Environment, ACI.

Added Sebastian Mikosz, SVP of Member and External Relations at IATA: “As the world works to recover from Covid-19, the focus is shifting to building back better and with greater resilience. Science tells us to expect more pandemics in the future and combatting the smuggling of wildlife can be viewed as a key prevention measure.”

The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) certification awarded to Air Canada was introduced by IATA last year and recognises actions taken by the airline to strengthen defences against wildlife trafficking in line with the 11 commitments of the Buckingham Palace Declaration. These commitments include adopting a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade, improving the industry’s ability to share information about illegal activities and encouraging as many members of the transport sector as possible to sign on.

The IWT module was developed with support from ROUTES and is a component of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA), which includes a two-stage certification process, both achieved by Air Canada. IEnvA is a programme developed specifically for the aviation sector and demonstrates equivalency to the ISO 14001:2005 environmental management systems standard.

Air Canada Cargo has developed and introduced controls and procedures to reduce the likelihood of transporting illegal wildlife and illegal wildlife products. In 2018, it became the first airline to achieve the IATA CEIV Live Animals certification, which aims to meet the highest standards in the transport of live animals.

“There’s a connection between how wildlife is treated, how it can spread zoonotic disease and how we’ve ended up with the potential for pandemics in the world,” said Teresa Ehman, Senior Director of Environmental Affairs at Air Canada.

Top photo: An attempt to smuggle bobtail lizards was thwarted by Australian Border Force at Perth International