Qatar Airways' releases sustainability report 2016-17

The airline demonstrated constant and rapid growth during 2016-17, with 14 per cent more passenger and cargo flights carrying significantly more passengers, adding 10 new routes to its global network, and growing its fleet from 182 to 196 aircraft in the 12 month period ending 31 March 2017. Hamad International Airport exhibited similar growth in 2016-17, serving 38.2 million passengers, managing 250,419 aircraft movements and handling 1.8 million tonnes of cargo.

Alongside its growth, through commitment to its environmental policy and objectives, Qatar Airways Group has demonstrated improvement in environmental performance across its business interests, including airline and airport operations, catering services, retail outlets and hotels.

Qatar Airways has continued to improve how efficiently it uses aviation fuel, making airline operations 2.5 per cent more carbon efficient than the previous year, building on the considerable efficiency gains reported in 2015-16. The airline’s ongoing fuel optimisation programme focuses on reducing weight, route optimisation, aircraft operations on the ground and technical performance. 

During this period the airport achieved an 11.9 per cent improvement in carbon efficiency per passenger when compared to the previous year. It also became the first airport in the Gulf Co-operation Council to achieve Level 3 of Airports Council International’s carbon accreditation programme and set a new target to improve its carbon efficiency per passenger by 30 per cent before 2030.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our environmental performance demonstrates that Qatar Airways takes its leadership role in the international aviation community very seriously. We lead by example in environmental matters, particularly the management of our carbon emissions and the protection of wildlife and endangered species. As a global airline serving more than 150 destinations on six continents, every corner of the globe is important to us. We are committed to our own sustainability journey as well as to contributing to the aviation industry’s target of carbon-neutral growth from 2020.” 

The Sustainability Report provides many other examples of Qatar Airways Group’s environmental commitments in managing network growth, airport operations, waste management, water conservation, and protecting endangered wildlife. For example, Qatar Airways Group continues its dedication to the global fight against the illegal trade in endangered wildlife, and this year it developed plans to improve detection within its cargo and passenger network. Qatar Airways Group continues to collaborate with its peers, international bodies and regulatory authorities to tackle this important issue at the industry level.

The report outlines Qatar Airways Group‘s plans for environmental improvement to ensure sustainable growth across its operations. It reveals how the careful implementation of the principles and the processes of its environmental management systems throughout the Group is embedding a culture of environmental responsibility amongst its workforce. This is paramount as the airline continues its robust growth trajectory.