Airbus, Latin America on its way to net-zero by 2050

As a company, Airbus is committed to leading the journey towards sustainable aerospace, aiming to bring the first zero emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035, reduce its industrial environmental footprint, develop a more circular model leveraging ecodesign and digitalization and enhance the current product and services portfolio to mitigate the Company’s effects on climate change.

Decarbonizing aviation, however, is not a journey that Airbus - or any stakeholder in the aviation sector for that matter - can make on its own. The lofty industry goal set by IATA during the 77th AGM of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires a joint effort across the sector. Through investments in hydrogen energy and partnerships aimed at making this goal a reality In Latin America, the ever-important first steps are well underway.

Back in April, Latin America’s largest airshow, FIDAE, proved fertile ground for the discussions and agreements that will make net-zero by 2050 possible. Airbus announced it joined Vuelo Limpio, an initiative led by the Chilean Energy Sustainability Agency and Chile’s Civil Aeronautics board to help decarbonize the Chilean aviation ecosystem through improvements in the energy efficiency of air transport and energy transition.

Vuelo Limpio brings Airbus together with other important partners in Chilean aerospace, including Nuevo Pudahuel, JetSMART, LATAM, SKY, Ecocopter and the Chilean Airlines Association (ACHILA). For Airbus, the role will entail working closely with the Chilean Energy Sustainability Agency to reduce aviation emission and identify opportunities to improve operations at congested airports. Additionally, Airbus will work with Vuelo Limpio to decarbonize aviation through the promotion of cleaner technologies like SAF and green hydrogen and support implementation of a national sustainable aviation program focused on energy.

Airbus also welcomed the recent announcement by five major players in the energy and airport industries in Chile, a MoU between Nuevo Pudahuel (through Groupe ADP and VINCI Airports), Air Liquide, Colbún and Copec to work diligently towards making Santiago de Chile’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport the first in Latin America to incorporate the use of hydrogen in its operations. The MoU aims to contribute specifically to the airport’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

With a clear roadmap towards decarbonization, strong partnerships to exchange innovations and best practices to expand upon progress that has already been made, the goal towards net-zero will become more than just a dream - but a reality.

For more information contact:
Daniel Medendorp
Communications Manager
daniel.medendorp@airbus.com