Southwest Airlines has announced an updated sustainability strategy, called Nonstop to Net Zero, which outlines the carrier’s path toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Southwest’s updated goals include:
- Electrifying 50% of eligible ground support equipment (GSE) system-wide by 20302. The carrier has electrified 33% of eligible GSE and plans to work with airports to evaluate electric infrastructure to support additional expansion.
Saving 50 million incremental gallons of jet fuel by 2025, with a goal of saving 1.1 billion cumulative gallons by 20353. In 2022, the carrier saved approximately 33 million gallons of fuel through fuel efficiency initiatives. To reach new fuel savings goals, Southwest is implementing planned and new fuel savings initiatives, including enhancements to flight planning software, expected to save at least 145,000 metric tons of CO2e annually.
Reducing single-use plastics from inflight service by 50% by weight by 2025 and eliminating single-use plastics from inflight service where feasible by 20304.
“We’re working toward our decarbonisation goals by modernising our fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft and securing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), while also furthering our sustainability initiatives in the near-term,” said Helen Giles, managing director environmental sustainability at Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines Nonstop to Net Zero
“Our people and customers care about our planet, and we continue to take action to address aviation’s impact on the environment, while collaborating with our suppliers, local and national government, and other organisations.”
Southwest is also working to improve recycling through five key focus areas and collaborate with suppliers on sustainability, including utilizing EcoVadis to assess the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of the Company’s supply chain and ensure alignment with Southwest’s Supplier Code of Conduct.
Southwest’s new goals complement the carrier’s existing sustainability plans of:
Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Reducing carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2035 in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement, with an interim target of 25% reduction by 20305.
Replacing 10% of total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030.
Reducing energy utilization index at the Company’s Dallas corporate headquarters by 50% by 20356.
Charting Our Progress in 2023
“As we look ahead to the next phase of our sustainability journey as part of our Nonstop to Net Zero strategy, we’re also proud of the progress we’ve made over the past year,” Giles said.
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