Air New Zealand announced its decision to withdraw from its 2030 science-based carbon intensity reduction target and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The airline explained that this decision came after “careful consideration” and was influenced by several factors beyond its control.
The primary reasons cited include the unavailability of new aircraft, the high cost and limited availability of alternative jet fuels, and insufficient global and domestic regulatory and policy support. These challenges, according to the airline, make it difficult to achieve the set targets.
Air New Zealand’s CEO, Greg Foran, highlighted that recent and potential delays in the fleet renewal plan pose additional risks to meeting the 2030 target. He noted that the airline might need to keep its existing fleet longer than planned due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues, which could delay the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. Given these uncontrollable factors, the airline decided to retract the 2030 target and withdraw from the SBTi network immediately.
Despite this setback, Air New Zealand remains committed to its 2050 net zero carbon emissions goal. Chair Dame Therese Walsh emphasized that the airline continues its efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and advocates for the necessary regulatory and policy changes to support the aviation sector in mitigating climate change risks.