Norwegian has committed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45 per cent by the end of this decade (compared with 2010 levels), as part of a new sustainable environmental strategy.
The low-cost carrier said that the target would be achieved through fleet renewal and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Norwegian says it will utilise between 16 and 28 per cent SAF by 2030, depending on the level of fleet renewal, equating to up to 500 million litres of SAF by the end of the decade.
The airline said that the commitment to reduce emissions by 45 per cent “is in line with the 1.5oC target set forth in the Paris Agreement”, and would sit alongside other environmental aims including the removal of all non-recyclable plastics, and the recycling of all single-use plastics by 2023.
Norwegian said that “a regulatory framework that actively rewards carbon efficiency and increases both the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel” would be needed to achieve its targets, with CEO Jacob Schram calling on producers “to ramp up production”.
“At Norwegian we take our responsibility towards the environment seriously, and that is why we must look to the future and implement a strategy that produces immediate and tangible benefits for the environment today,” said Schram.
“Norwegian will continue to instigate a positive change across the industry in this field that will benefit not only the environment but also our customers and our business. The low-cost business model is the sustainability model as it enables efficient energy and resource management.”
Last year Norwegian announced a partnership with Oslo-based technology company Chooose to offer passengers the option of offsetting the carbon footprint of their flights.
When selecting a flight, customers are informed how Norwegian’s flight emissions compare to the industry average, and a CO2 emissions calculation is then made “based on the official methodology of the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT) and Norwegian’s own flight emissions data”.