Sustainability strategy SWISS
As Switzerland’s leading air carrier, SWISS focuses on environmental issues as part of its wide-ranging sustainability strategy.
Flying connects people, nations and cultures, and enables global trade and exchanges. A world without air transport would be inconceivable today. But with the huge importance that the air transport sector carries comes a great responsibility, too. As Switzerland’s leading air carrier, SWISS is well aware of these responsibilities towards the environment and future generations, and firmly focuses on environmental issues and considerations as part of its wide-ranging sustainability strategy. To reach its ambitious CO2 targets, the airline is firmly committed to further modernizing its aircraft fleet, steadily further enhancing its flight operations, using Sustainable Aviation Fuel and supplementing this with investments in climate protection projects.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
The key to achieving the carbon dioxide reduction targets that the air transport sector has set itself is the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Compared to fossil fuels, today’s SAF generates some 80% fewer CO2 emissions. In the longer term, switching from fossil kerosene to SAF should make aviation almost carbon-neutral. At present, however, Sustainable Aviation Fuel is only available in limited volumes, and is considerably more expensive than conventional kerosene. This is why SWISS is working actively, through targeted measures and collaborations, to drive the development and expand the availability of SAF together with the Lufthansa Group, its partners and its customers.
Fly more sustainably to/from Switzerland
SWISS offers you several options to reduce and/or offset the CO2 emissions of your flight and thus gives you not only the opportunity to take active steps to make your air travel more sustainable but also – through the purchase of SAF – the chance to help transform the air transport sector.
Strong partnership: Synhelion
Flying with kerosene made from sunlight. Currently, biofuels are only available in limited quantities. In view of this, SWISS is promoting the development of so-called solar fuels. Therefore, the airline has established a strategic collaboration with the Swiss cleantech company Synhelion, a pioneer in the sustainable solar fuel field. This will make SWISS the first airline in the world to use ‘sun-to-liquid’ fuel.
Strong partnership: Climeworks
SWISS was the first airline in the world to enter into a pioneering partnership with the Swiss company Climeworks. As a global leader in Direct Air Capture (DAC), Climeworks has developed an innovative technology to remove CO2 directly from the air and then have it stored permanently underground. In addition to modern aircraft and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), partnerships with companies such as Climeworks are important elements for SWISS in promoting key technologies and achieving its ambitious CO2 targets.
Innovation: AeroSHARK
Inspired by shark skin SWISS became the first passenger airline in the world to deploy the innovative so-called AeroSHARK technology. It’s a transparent film that features millions of ‘riblets’ – small protrusions just 50 micrometres high – which has been applied to the aircraft’s fuselage and engine nacelles. It replicates the hydrodynamic skin of a shark to reduce aerodynamic drag and, as a result, lower both inflight fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Continuous Fleet Renewal
Continuous investment in modern and particularly fuel-efficient aircraft and engine technologies are an important lever for reducing emissions from flight operations. SWISS operates a modern aircraft fleet and continuously invests in its renewal. On short-haul the airline operates a model of the newest generation with the Airbus A220. The most modern technologies were used in engines, systems and materials in its development. The fuel savings of approx. 25% compared to its predecessor sets new benchmarks in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. In the Airbus A320 fleet, the older aircraft are being gradually replaced by the modern A320neo, which help to achieve fuel savings of approx. 20%.
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