IATA and Etihad to Trial CO2 Emissions Calculator for Cargo Flights

Dark/Light Mode (28/09/22)  IATA, in partnership with Etihad Airways, is set to trial a CO2 emissions calculation tool specifically developed for cargo flights.

The trial will provide a valuable proof of concept for the cargo component of the IATA CO2 Connect carbon calculator.

IATA has been successfully providing IATA CO2 Connect for passenger flights since June of this year, with actual fuel burn data of 57 aircraft types representing ~98% of the active global passenger fleet. The calculator uses airline specific data on fuel burn and load factors, making it one of the most accurate in the market.

Etihad Cargo A350F

“Aviation will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And our customer - travelers and shippers - need accurate information on the emissions related to their activities to manage their own commitments and reporting obligations,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Products & Services. “For all these purposes, accurate data is critical. IATA CO2 Connect already provides this for passenger operations. This trial with Etihad will help us in bringing an industry-leading carbon calculator for cargo in the coming months.”

Calculating the carbon impact of cargo shipments has more challenging parameters, not least of which is the unpredictability of routing at time of booking an air cargo shipment that can often include non-air segments. In addition, cargo can be carried on both dedicated freighter aircraft and in the belly of passenger aircraft.

IATA will be working with Etihad Cargo to track the necessary data for cargo shipments during a three-month trial. Etihad will be sharing data from flights and advising on various use cases to achieve the highest levels of accuracy, consistency and transparency.

By mid-2023 IATA aims to launch CO2 Connect for Cargo providing the industry with precise and consistent methodologies for both passenger and cargo operations.

“The airline’s development with IATA demonstrates the ability and willingness to co-create solutions to support Etihad Cargo’s journey to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and demonstrates the carrier’s agility in adopting state-of-the-art technology and digital solutions,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group. “IATA’s CO2 Connect carbon calculator will be an effective tool in making the transportation of cargo more sustainable and will benefit not only Etihad Cargo’s customers but also the wider air cargo sector in the future.”

IATA CO2 Connect is available to companies within and outside the travel value chain, such as TMCs, travel agencies, airlines or multinational corporations. They can access the relevant CO2 emissions data and integrate it in a customized manner into their existing flight booking tools so that travel managers and/or travelers can easily see the CO2 emissions per routing. The tool also permits the consolidation of data for reporting purposes.

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