LONDON – European aviation industry leaders Airbus, Air France-KLM, ATR, Dassault Aviation, Groupe ADP, Safran and Thales have welcomed the Declaration of Toulouse. It has been made by the European Commission (EC) and Member States under the French EU Presidency.

This declaration means that all the above groups will work within the European aviation industry to achieve decarbonisation of the sector by 2050. This falls into alignment with the Destination 2050 roadmap.

Destination 2050 is a report that was independently produced and provides a clear vision and path for meaningful CO2 emission reduction efforts not just for European aviation, but globally. It was produced off the back of the Paris Agreement and European Green Deal. It will see all flights within and departing the EU, United Kingdom and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) realizing net CO2 emissions by 2050.

Airbus states that they will continue to invest in the maturation, development and implementation of decarbonisation technologies. These include next-generation aircraft and engines, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and synthetic fuels. They will also look to institutions to support the development and deployment of innovations such as, Clean Aviation, SESAR and CORAC. Additionally, they will provide the appropriate support to accelerate all their stakeholders’ fleet renewal and SAF under viable economic conditions.

Airbus has also urged the EC to implement the launch of industrial alliances, to enable the alignment of the aviation ecosystem. Notably, the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance, the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation and the European Raw Materials Alliance.

Not only is Airbus pushing for European aviation to adopt this guidance, but they have also called for all their worldwide partners to work together at the 41st ICAO Assembly to produce an ambitious long-term aspirational goal for international aviation in achieving zero CO2 emissions for aviation globally.