Air France has updated its sustainability commitment strategy by pledging a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.
This target corresponds to a 12 per cent absolute reduction of the company's total emissions between 2019 and 2030, after a 6 per cent reduction achieved between 2005 and 2019.
Air France’s objective excludes offsetting actions “to consider measures that exclusively reduce direct and indirect emissions”.
The company previously aimed for a 50 per cent reduction by 2030 relative to its 2005 baseline, according to its 2020 sustainability report. Air France also reconfirmed its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The carrier noted several actions it planned to take to reduce and avoid CO2 emissions, including the introduction of new more efficient aircraft and increased use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the aim of using 10 per cent of this fuel on all flights and 63 per cent by 2050.
Other measures include “eco-piloting techniques” such as taxiing using only one engine when possible and employing optimised flight paths using artificial intelligence and continuous descent.
Air France also plans by the end of 2022 to have eliminated 90 per cent of single-use plastics compared with 2018.
The airline will also offer low-carbon transport alternatives for short-distance journeys, with a "reinforced partnership" between Air France and French national rail operator SNCF.
This last plan comes after French lawmakers last year moved to abolish short-haul domestic flights.