knkjn

The strategy is updated annually taking in consideration both external and internal aspects and focuses on new opportunities to improve environmental performance (Qantas Sustainability Review, 2013). The main problem form Qantas is considered to be the aviation fuel, as it constitutes more than 94 per cent of the airline’s domestic carbon emissions. As a result the development of new sustainable fuel and the optimisation of fuel efficiency are seen a priority. The airline is aiming to a 1.5 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency each year until 2020. Furthermore, the company has achieved 3.2 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and it is committed to see a 50 per cent reduction in its carbon emissions in the next 40 years through the use of new technologies and new biofuels (Qantas Sustainability Review, 2013).

Another important way to reduce fuel costs is by investing in new more sustainable aircrafts. Indeed, Qantas is planning to buy new aircrafts, which are more fuel-efficient during the next ten years and to slowly retire the old fleet. Additionally, the reconfiguration of some aircraft models will further improve the fuel efficiency on a per seat basis (Qantas Sustainable Review, 2013).

Qantas Airline is also aiming to reduce electricity, water use and waste production by adopting new smart management approaches and through the installation of new technologies.

Regarding the social aspects of sustainability, Qantas seems to support local communities focused on the areas of health, education, humanitarian, reconciliation etc. In special mode, Qantas supports partners such as Clean Up Australia, The Great Barrier Reef Foundations and Landcare Australia, which can be seen as a good attempt to be socially su...

... middle of paper ...

...ic principles. Most of the airlines publish annual reports on their achievements towards sustainability and many organisations are investing in new alternative bio fuels with outstanding results.

Finally, the aviation industry as a whole should be able to achieve the aspects of sustainability at least in the long term but at the same time it could face financial pressure, as important financial investments are likely to happen. Moreover, not all the parts of the industry will be able to achieve a sustainable level within the next decades and this could have an economic cost on the airline industry and as a consequence on the price societies pay to travel (Forsyth, p.32). In conclusion, the air transport will not become more sustainable in the long term without a major step change in both technology and our understanding of aviation’s contribution to global society.