“While aviation accounts for just 2-3% of global emissions, the industry is for the most part taking its climate commitments seriously, despite receiving (in my respectful opinion) a disproportionate share of public scrutiny,” he said.
Airlines are innovating and investing, aircraft manufacturers are advancing new technologies, and there is a genuine, sector-wide focus on decarbonisation, Seares pointed out.
“The future of sustainable aviation will require collective, industry-wide action, and the good news is, real progress is already being made,” he said.
While Seares predicts electric and eVTOL aircraft will play an increasingly important role in short-haul and regional markets, there are currently no commercially viable electric or hydrogen solutions for medium- and long-haul routes, which make up the bulk of emissions.
“This makes SAF the most promising near-to-medium-term pathway to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint at scale,” he observed.
“The challenge is scale and supply. SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80%, but it remains expensive and difficult to source, especially in remote regions like the South Pacific. That’s why investment in SAF production, infrastructure, and affordability is so critical.”
In August 2023, Fiji Airways’ Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft completed the final leg of its delivery flight from Singapore to Fiji on a 40% SAF blend.
While the carrier is at the beginning of its SAF journey, it was a successful flight that offered the team valuable data and operational insights.
“Looking ahead, we’re exploring how Fiji Airways can help catalyse the development of a regional SAF supply chain, including the potential to produce SAF locally using sugarcane biomass from Fiji’s domestic sugar industry,” revealed Seares.
“It’s early days, but with the right partnerships and policy support, there is real potential to turn local feedstock into global impact.”
“In the end, the path to sustainable aviation isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about long-term thinking, regional collaboration, and making smart investments today that enable cleaner flight tomorrow.”
Caring for the planet
Earlier this year, Fiji Airways launched its sustainability strategy and action plan called Maroroya, which invites everyone in the company to view protecting the environment as a shared responsibility, explained Seares.
“As the national airline of a Pacific island nation, we know that our ability to connect Fiji with the world carries an obligation to protect what makes our islands so special,” he said. “Maroroya reflects our commitment to safeguarding our environment, empowering our people, and creating enduring value for future generations.
The framework is centred around planet, people and the airline’s responsibility to maintaining ethical and responsible business practices. A key pillar of the Maroroya vision is Fiji Airlines’ alignment with the government’s climate goals and the aviation industry’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050, alongside its fellow oneworld alliance members.
Travellers and agents can follow the carrier’s progress on the dedicated Marorya website.
Strides in sustainability
Fiji Airways has taken some great strides in its sustainability journey, including its fleet of next-generation aircraft (including the Airbus A350-900 XWB and Boeing 737 MAX-8), which delivers up to 25% fuel savings compared to its previous models.
Between 2019 and 2023, the onboard SkyBreathe Eco-Flying Platform saved over 5.8 million kilograms of fuel and avoided 18.4 million kilos of carbon emissions. Last year, the system saved an additional 451,015 kg of fuel, 34,670 kg of water, and reduced emissions by 1.4 million kg.
Another of Fiji Airways’ sustainability achievements includes its waste processing efforts, which were doubled last year and saw 47,000 kilos of material and more than 73,000 plastic bottles recycled in partnership with Mission Pacific, BAF, and Air Terminal Services Fiji.
The carrier is also trialling programs that repurpose waste, including cooking oil which has turned into cleaning products and waste mechanical oil which has been transformed into industrial fuel.
Meanwhile, thousands of blankets, towels, cushion covers and table linens have been donated to Fijian shelters and community groups in need and onboard, single-use plastics are being phased out to FSC-certified wooden cutlery, paper cups and eco-friendly packaging, removing millions of plastic items out of the supply chain.
