Etihad readies for Sustainable Flight
Etihad Airways has opened booking on its EY20 Sustainable Flight departing 23 October from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi, to celebrate the latest anniversary of the Etihad Greenliner Programme.
The Etihad Greenliner Programme – now two years old following its inception in 2019 – uses Etihad’s Boeing 787 fleet as a test bed for sustainability improvements in partnership with organisations across the aviation industry.
Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Since Etihad and Boeing signed the Greenliner agreement, the two companies have been focussed on delivering sustainability solutions for the aviation industry, despite the global pandemic. The Sustainable Flight on 23 October will be a celebration of everything that has been achieved in the past two years and a great flight for Etihad’s guests who will get to see what the future of commercial air travel looks like. The fact that sustainability has stayed on the agenda during the pandemic is testament to just how important the topic is to Etihad – the sustainability challenges faced globally will still be around when COVID-19 is no longer an issue.”
With two years of ecoFlights trialling select improvements in sustainability completed as part of the Greenliner Programme, Etihad is operating this special celebratory flight to bring together the best of the past two years into a single flight. October’s flight from Heathrow will be operated with Etihad’s signature Greenliner aircraft, with a livery specifically created to recognise the Greenliner Programme and its call to action for the aviation industry.
Consumables, such as potable water, will be loaded based on expected consumption to reduce the total weight of the aircraft and save fuel.
Passengers will select locally-sourced dining options and be provided with lightweight stainless-steel cutlery from Sola Cutlery, along with a range of carefully selected products from crockery to in-flight meal trays to dental kits – all specially sourced for the flight.
All products onboard have been selected to ensure the highest standards of sustainability using perspectives on sourcing, weight, and a key focus on the full product lifecycle (including end-of-life recycling) through a partnership with serviceware design company, deSter.
The food served onboard will include vegan options and not use unsustainable products such as beef and palm oil, giving guests the opportunity to eat sustainabl.y
Guests will receive personal water bottles, minimising single-use paper cups and waste during the flight.
All waste will be segregated to ensure the highest possible levels of recycling in Abu Dhabi.
The flight will be crewed by a dedicated group of Etihad Green Ambassadors who will offer feedback to the Etihad service delivery teams to continue the evolution of Etihad’s product. While on board, they will be available to passengers who wish to know more about the EY20 Sustainable Flight and the airline’s sustainability initiatives.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “The Sustainable Flight will be our latest ecoFlight of many already completed on our 787 Dreamliner, but the ambition and intent of this flight stands it apart from anything we’ve ever done previously. It’s no understatement to say this will be our most sustainable flight to date, as well as an accurate look at what the future of flying will look like. This flight will put into practice all our learnings over the last two years through the Etihad Greenliner programme, which has allowed us to test SAF, eco-friendly products, and a range of operational efficiencies; reduce single use plastic on board and practice optimised flight route planning and continuous descent.”