Air France-KLM, the most sustainable airline group in the world

Air France-KLM again occupies the first position of the air transport industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the most important ranking in the world in terms of social and environmental practices promoted by companies. For the fifteenth consecutive year, the Group ranks first in the Europe and World categories, and this year it won first place.
“By recognizing Air France-KLM as the industry leader, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is today rewarding the ongoing effort and concrete actions carried out for years by all employees of Air France, KLM and Transavia, in all areas of activity, ”said Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM. “The Air France KLM Group must be exemplary in terms of social and environmental responsibility and dedicate all its efforts to tirelessly seek improvements in this area, for the good of our planet, employees, customers and future generations. Our leadership must mobilize and bring together our partners, actors and air transport professionals, because we all have a responsibility to continually transform air transport to make it more environmentally friendly, ”he added.

Air France initiatives
Air France will eliminate 210 million disposable plastic items by the end of 2019, which will be replaced on all flights with more sustainable alternatives. Passengers will receive products made from biobased materials instead of disposable plastic items generally distributed on board, always in accordance with applicable sanitary standards and regulations.
Air France has also signed a letter of intent for the purchase of up to 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The A220-300 generates 20% less CO2 emissions than similar aircraft and is twice as quiet, which allows the company to significantly reduce its environmental footprint. The first A220-300 will be received in September 2021. These aircraft, perfectly suited to replace the A318 and A319, will be incorporated into the short and medium-haul fleet from September 2021.
The company also collaborates with the ECV Green Deal to conduct studies that demonstrate the economic and operational feasibility of using biofuels for aviation produced in France. This means assessing stocks of waste that can be converted into aviation biofuels, such as used cooking oil, animal fat and other wastes.

KLM initiatives
In June, KLM launched the FlyResponsibly initiative, committing itself to creating a more sustainable future for air transport, incorporating all existing and future efforts of KLM to improve sustainability in its activities, in addition to seeking what can be done. do with the cooperation of the entire sector. The objective of KLM is to ask consumers to compensate for their participation in the CO2 emissions of their flights, just as companies are invited to compensate for their business trips through the KLM Corporate Biofuels Program.
“We are very happy with this excellent ranking in the DJSI, which reflects the numerous initiatives that KLM has launched to make air transport more sustainable. In 2018, KLM managed to reduce its total level of CO2 emissions, even with a growth in operations. Thus, KLM reduced CO2 emissions per passenger by 17.3% compared to 2011. But we still have a lot to do in terms of sustainability, which will remain a key area of ​​investment and innovation for KLM. In addition, it is important that the actors in our industry intensify cooperation and exchange their best practices. Only by working as a team, the air transport industry can move forward in terms of sustainability, ”said Pieter Elbers, president and CEO of KLM.
KLM has invested in research on sustainable aviation fuel since 2009, but its promise to acquire 75,000 tons of this fuel makes it the first airline in the world to buy biofuel on a large scale. Starting in 2022, this fuel will be produced in the first European sustainable aviation fuel factory, supported by KLM, which will be built in Delftzijl.
KLM also cooperates with the Delft University of Technology to develop a plane that flies more economically thanks to its V-shape (Flying-V), in which the passenger and crew cabin, as well as the winery and fuel tanks, They are integrated into the wings of the plane.