Air France and the Solar Impulse Foundation call for solutions for the future of sustainable aviation

The aim of this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of economically and ecologically viable solutions in the aviation industry.

Air France and the Solar Impulse Foundation are calling for clean, efficient and profitable solutions to accelerate the ecological transition of the aviation sector. The two partners have developed a digital platform to enable project leaders to apply online.

The Solar Impulse Foundation will first examine the solutions on the basis of the criteria of its Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, assessing their environmental impact, economic profitability and technological feasibility.

Projects that meet the Label’s requirements will all be made available to the aviation industry, to help build a more sustainable world. Those that come within the framework of Air France’s trajectory will be developed within the company.

The solutions put forward within the framework of this partnership must address one or more of the following challenges:

1. Carbon footprint
2. Efficiency (fuel, weight etc.)
3. Alternatives to single-use plastics and cabin waste management
4. Clean ground operations
5. Noise reduction
6. Aviation and new energies

On 1 October 2019, Air France announced an ambitious environmental roadmap that includes offsetting 100% of CO2 emissions from all domestic flights as from 1 January 2020, reducing CO2 emissions per passenger/km by 50% by 2030 compared to 2005, carbon neutrality of its ground operations, and reducing non-recycled waste by 50%.

“My ambition is to offer everyone, both current and future generations, a responsible travel experience. We must step up the transition to more sustainable air transport and we voluntarily make new commitments for today and 2030. The Solar Impulse Foundation is our partner of choice, to help innovate now, and pioneer more sustainable aviation for the future.

Reducing carbon footprint in the air and on the ground, stepping up in circular economy, offsetting impacts whenever possible: these are the paths we explore with all labelled Solutions for Clean Aviation!” said Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France.

Beyond the identification of clean, efficient and cost-effective solutions, this partnership also marks the Solar Impulse Foundation’s commitment to enter a new phase of its project, by accelerating the development and implementation of technologies.

“Numerous clean and profitable solutions already exist to make aviation more sustainable. We want to promote and implement them at scale in the air and on the ground. This is precisely the objective of our partnership with Air France who is committed to taking the lead in the future of clean aviation. The Solar Impulse Foundation is dedicated to helping them get there.” said Bertrand Piccard, President of the Solar Impulse Foundation.