Airbus and Airports Council International (ACI) World association have entered an agreement to support the industry’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of aviation.
The two companies signed a cooperation agreement on July 22, 2024, during the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in the United Kingdom.
Airbus said the alliance will address key areas including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), hydrogen technologies, advanced air mobility, operations efficiency, and aircraft noise management practices.
Moreover, the partnership will foster the exchange of information and perspectives on low carbon operations, communicate industry progress, jointly develop guidance materials, and potentially formulate unified positions on policies and standards to achieve the industry targets.
Airbus and ACI Europe began their partnership in 2022, and have since worked together on the deployment of alternative energies including hydrogen and SAF within European alliances, sharing technical data with European airports and communicating progress at key industry events.
Airbus said the expansion of this collaboration to a global scale underscores the importance of integrated efforts between aircraft manufacturers and airport operators on a global scale.
“This partnership marks a significant step in our collective efforts to reduce aviation’s environmental impact,” Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer, said in a statement.
“By combining our technological expertise with ACI World’s vast network and operational insights, we aim to influence policies and standards that support sustainable aviation and drive industry-wide innovation. Together, we can create a cohesive and aligned approach to achieving our decarbonization targets and enhancing the sustainability of the global aviation sector,” Kitcher added.
