Each of us has a role in making the planet greener—whether as individuals or part of larger organizations. This belief was at the heart of Tony Fernandes' message during a media briefing at the Bali International Airshow 2024, held on September 19 at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.
Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, emphasized that sustainability is a collective responsibility, involving both individuals and corporations. He underscored the importance of even small efforts in reducing carbon emissions.
“Whether it's one percent or it's two percent, it's our responsibility to reduce carbon emissions 100 percent,” he shares. “This is a tough subject. It is our responsibility. Let's do it the right way and not charge like a bull in a China shop without really knowing the effects.”
His message was clear: Everyone has a role to play, and it’s essential to tackle the challenge carefully and responsibly.
Alongside Chief Sustainability Officer Yap Mun Ching, Fernandes outlined AirAsia's sustainability initiatives, focusing on the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), carbon credits, improvements in air traffic management, and advancing operational efficiency. The goal is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Central to this effort is AirAsia’s partnership with Airbus, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, to develop innovations for greener aviation in Southeast Asia.
AirAsia is also upgrading its fleet, with 381 units of A321 and 15 units of A330 aircraft on order, expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 percent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels. Further reductions of 15 percent will come from operational efficiencies and SAF advancements.
In 2023 alone, AirAsia’s efficiency measures avoided 130,000 tonnes of CO2—equivalent to planting over two million trees—saving $40 million in fuel and reducing shadow carbon costs by $388,000.
The partnership between AirAsia and Airbus also focuses on improving air traffic management, combining AirAsia’s fuel efficiency with Airbus’ technological expertise. The collaboration aims to adapt successful solutions from the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Project to ASEAN airspace, further reducing emissions in the region.
Yap Mun Ching highlighted the complementary strengths of both companies—AirAsia’s regional operational experience and Airbus’ technological innovation.
“AirAsia will be a key partner of Airbus in ASEAN to test the feasibility of SAF output developed using alternative feedstock and technologies, as well as ground-breaking ATM initiatives supported by Airbus’ innovation teams,” she says. “As a regional carrier based in five ASEAN countries, we bring unparalleled operational experience in the region to complement Airbus’ technological expertise. The partnership establishes a foundation upon which to build joint projects at multiple levels that address the broad needs of improving the environmental performance of the sector.”