UAE Business: Etihad, Satavia plan contrail prevention net zero flight – Gulf Digital News

UAE Business: Etihad, Satavia plan contrail prevention net zero flight – Gulf Digital News

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, is implementing contrail prevention on a special NetZero flight during the COP27 event as part of its continuing partnership with aerospace company Satavia.

The airline is set to operate a dedicated NetZero flight EY130 from Washington Dulles Airport to Abu Dhabi on November 13, combining Satavia contrail prevention with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), alongside other operational efficiencies, to demonstrate the potential for net-zero commercial aviation using current technology.

The flight is the latest in Etihad’s programme of ecoFlights carried out over the past two years, and follows the EY20 Sustainable Flight Etihad operated from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi last year, reducing overall climate impact by 72 per cent.

Building on Etihad’s weekly contrail prevention exercises with Satavia, the flight will be the first Etihad transatlantic crossing to actively manage non-CO2 climate effects from contrail formation, tackling a sustainability challenge responsible for up to 60 per cent of aviation’s climate footprint.

Mariam Alqubaisi, Etihad’s Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence, said: “The Etihad/Satavia collaboration demonstrates the possibility of dramatic sustainability advances in day-to-day commercial operations.

“In 2022 alone, Satavia technology has enabled us to eliminate over 6,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent climate impact. We are delighted