ACJ study reveals US corporate bizjet users increasingly focus on reducing their carbon footprint

A new study with senior executives of large US businesses that use business aviation reveals a growing focus on reducing the carbon footprint of their flights.

The study commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) reveals 95% of those executives interviewed say their companies have a good understanding of the carbon footprint of their business aircraft flights. Nine out of ten say their understanding here has improved over the past five years, with nearly half (49%) saying it has improved dramatically.

The two main reasons behind this shift are the appointment of specialists to monitor the carbon footprint of flights, and an increased investment in these teams. The third main reason given is that companies operating their aircraft are now offering more detailed carbon footprint data for flights.

Large US companies are taking a range of steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their business aviation flights.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a biofuel that can help reduce CO2 emissions by 80% on average throughout its lifecycle. As with all ACJ aircraft, the ACJ TwoTwenty is capable of flying with up to a 50% blend of kerosene and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) while keeping to the technical specifications of Jet A. All Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters will be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030. This capability will play an important role in the sector’s decarbonization journey.

Among executives at firms that use business aviation (all forms), 61% anticipate their companies would be prepared to increase their business aviation budgets by more than 25% to enable them to use SAF or more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Of those executives at firms that own or lease business aircraft, 95% report increased investment in fleet management technology for route optimization, which helps to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions.

Some 93% of executives surveyed at firms that charter business jets emphasized a preference for newer, more efficient models to help reduce the impact of their flights on the environment.

“Most large US corporations have a strong and growing focus on more sustainable business aviation practices,” said Sean McGeough, VP Commercial ACJ for North America. “The research clearly demonstrates this trend in their aircraft purchase decisions and fleet operations.”

McGeough continued: “The use of SAF will be a game-changer for aviation and business aviation’s decarbonization journey. There is clearly more demand for SAF than current or near-term production capacity. The US aims to produce three billion gallons of SAF by 2030 on the way to providing SAF for 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050.”

ACJ offers a range of large business aircraft with the latest generation technology and efficiency. The recently launched ACJ TwoTwenty is carving out a whole new market segment, ‘The Xtra Large Bizjet.’ With six wide, VIP living areas of around 130 square feet each, the aircraft offers a true office environment with best-in-class connectivity and a range of relaxation options including a California King-size bed, an en suite bathroom with rain shower and a 55-inch 4K TV.

The ACJ TwoTwenty offers twice the cabin real estate compared to similarly priced ULR business jets with market-leading fuel efficiency and unrivaled reliability. It occupies the same parking footprint as competitive ULR jets and can take off from the same airports, but the ACJ TwoTwenty operating costs are one-third less.

With a range of up to 5,650 nm (over 12 flight hours), the ACJ TwoTwenty can meet the requirements of 99.9% of all US departures, connecting city pairs including Los Angeles to London, Miami to Buenos Aires and New York to Istanbul.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 26th October 2023 | Issue #721