Air New Zealand has updated its climate targets for 2030, aiming to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 20% to 25% from 2019 levels. This shift comes after the airline dropped its original Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved goal, which it deemed unattainable due to delays in enabling technologies, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply issues, and regulatory gaps.
The revised target now focuses on “well-to-wake” emissions, which make up 92% of the airline’s total GHG footprint. These emissions account for the full lifecycle of jet fuel, from production to combustion, and are key to Air New Zealand’s decarbonization strategy.
“Many of the levers needed to reach our target had not sufficiently advanced,” the airline acknowledged in a statement, referring to the slower-than-expected progress in fleet renewal, the limited availability of SAF, and gaps in regulatory support.
Key Focus Areas and Revised Targets
Despite scaling back its emissions reduction ambition for 2030, Air New Zealand remains committed to SAF as a primary solution for reducing emissions in the near term. The airline has set a goal of using 10% SAF by 2030, a significant increase from the 0.4% usage in 2023. For 2024, Air New Zealand expects to achieve 1.6% SAF usage.
The company continues to pursue longer-term decarbonization measures, including the development of zero-emissions aircraft, investment in carbon removal technologies, and operational efficiencies across its operations.
“For us, we want to be very honest about what we think is possible given the challenges involved in decarbonizing the aviation sector,” said Kiri Hannifin, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at Air New Zealand. “Setting something we can’t reach wouldn’t be tika. This will still be a stretch for us.”
Air New Zealand also reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and the airline plans to update its full transition plan later this year, outlining further steps toward sustainability. Despite the challenges, the airline is continuing to push forward with meaningful actions to reduce its environmental impact, with a focus on the critical role of SAF and future technological advancements.
