Estimates suggest that aviation accounts for 2-3% of total global carbon emissions, a relatively small but still significant proportion. However, there is growing momentum for change within the industry, driven by various factors.

Against this backdrop, Amadeus and Accenture have collaborated on a new research report titled “The Power of Digital: IT solutions and their role in aviation’s path to net zero”. The report evaluates the impact potential of IT solutions currently available to support airlines and airports as they navigate their path to reducing the carbon emissions of the aviation industry.

Olivier Girault, Head of Solutions, Sustainability Office, Amadeus comments: “While IT solutions alone cannot fully decarbonize aviation, they offer a near-term opportunity to improve operational efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. As the industry continues to evolve, Amadeus will support its customers in driving sustainable change through technology.”

Jesko Neuenburg, Global Aviation Sustainability Lead, Accenture adds: “IT solutions that help optimize airline operations can deliver a substantial decarbonization contribution. It was revealing to see that the solutions we reviewed – if deployed globally to all airlines and airports – could reduce as much CO2 emissions as all the SAF expected to be produced globally in 2024.”

The report identifies several key levers to decarbonize aviation, including fleet renewal, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), new aircraft technologies, and operational efficiency improvements.

The IT solutions lever can help airlines and airports accelerate their journey in the transition to net zero by providing operational efficiency improvements that decrease fuel burn and lower costs. Technology solutions such as data dashboards, forecasting models, and management tools can help improve insights and decision-making across organizations, from front-line to senior leaders. These tools help airlines, airports, and service providers make significant operational and profitability improvements.

The report contains two case studies to assess the current and potential impact of the following Amadeus IT solutions: Amadeus Airport Sequence Manager and Amadeus Altéa Departure Control – Flight Management:

• Amadeus Airport Sequence Manager optimizes airport departures by reducing congestion and maximizing runway capacity, leading to significant fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions. The report estimates that, if this solution were implemented at all applicable airports worldwide, 493,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions could be saved annually.
• Amadeus Altéa Departure Control – Flight Management calculates the optimal required fuel for a flight as well as the optimal center of gravity of the aircraft. Both optimizations result in fuel savings. The study highlights that this solution, if implemented at all applicable airlines globally, could result in a potential avoidance of 5.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

The analysis within estimates that, in 2023, the IT solutions explored in the case studies delivered a potential annual saving of the equivalent of 50,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

It then extrapolates the findings to a global scale, suggesting that if all applicable airlines and airports implemented these IT solutions, based on size and flight volume used to reach the calculations included in the report, the aviation industry could achieve a reduction of approximately 5.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. This reduction is equivalent to 0.6% of global aviation emissions in 2023 or 10,000 flights from London Heathrow to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Amadeus is dedicated to supporting the travel industry’s transition to more sustainable travel practices. The company is committed to tracking and addressing its own carbon emissions while helping its customers achieve their own sustainability goals. By leveraging advanced IT solutions, Amadeus aims to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions across the travel and tourism sector.