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The aviation industry is embracing a variety of innovations to reduce its environmental impact, including sustainable fuels, electric and hydrogen aircraft, and improved operational strategies.

Sustainable fuels. One of the greatest advances in reducing emissions is the use of biofuels. These fuels, derived from organic sources such as agricultural waste and used oils, have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuels. Companies such as Airbus and Boeing have led projects to develop and certify sustainable biofuels, demonstrating that it is possible to fly with a lower environmental bill without compromising efficiency or safety. In November 2023, Virgin Atlantic and Boeing marked  a historic milestone by making the first commercial flight, from London (Heathrow) to New York (JFK), using 100% sustainable fuel.

Electric aircraft and hydrogen aircraft. Another promising innovation is electric aircraft and aircraft powered by efficient hydrogen fuel cells. Airbus has set out to bring the first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market by 2035 through its ZEROe project. These aircraft, which will eliminate 100% carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution, are being designed for short and medium-haul flights, making them a viable eco-friendly alternative for regional routes. However, they face challenges such as the considerable weight of hydrogen cells and the high cost of manufacturing fuel cells.

Improvement of operational practices. Beyond technological advances in aircraft and fuels, airlines are implementing measures to be more sustainable.

• Route optimization: use of advanced software to plan more efficient flight routes, reducing time in the air and therefore fuel consumption.
• Weight reduction: use of lighter materials in aircraft construction and load optimization to improve fuel efficiency.
• Predictive maintenance: use of Artificial Intelligence to predict and maintain aircraft, avoiding inefficiencies and improving the longevity of aircraft.

Key points of sustainability in the airline sector:

• Biofuels: significant reduction of the carbon footprint.
• Electric and hydrogen (ZEROe) aircraft: Moderate-haul flights without carbon emissions.
• Operational optimization: route improvements, weight reduction, and predictive maintenance to increase efficiency.