When Spain-United States Chamber of Commerce I decided to choose Luis Gallego like entrepreneur of the yearThis is an award given in New York on Monday night, CEO IAG not only reinforced in the global panorama aviation industry to the holding company that includes Iberia And vuelingbut also “for their efforts in this field” Sustainability”. This is a commitment that Gallego shows faith in, even knowing the impact it has and will have on users. “Flying will be more expensiveBecause Decarbonizing aviation costs money“, he said in a meeting with the Spanish press hours before the premiere.
Gallego offers his dose of realism along with a defense of the transformation plan and the efficiency measures adopted by IAG “so that thisThe impact on costs is smaller and does not need to be transferred into rates“. And he underlines that, for example, he is the first European airline group to commit itself to using 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 (SAF, with its English abbreviation) is the first target designated as a target in the world. Net zero emissions by 2050 One of the three companies that received the best score from the Carbon Disclosure Project.
bet on SAF
Given the growing debate about the potential of hydrogen plane The businessman warns about short- and medium-distance flights that may reach 2035: ““It could take 30 years to replace the entire fleet.”. Although it gives the “possible” assurance for short and medium-haul flights other solutions such as hydrogen fuel cell planes” For regional aviation or technologies they have already invested in carbon capture, “for meslang is responsible for 80% of emissions “There is no solution for Co2 other than SAF”.
Gallego this fuel four to five times the cost of kerosene due to scarcity in the market and applauds The incentive policy for production carried out in the USA, Where will IAG import this fuel next year?
Gallego also expressed his hope for this proposal to be established in Europe. “One European sky”This is a transformation that will allow flying in a straighter line compared to the zig-zags currently required by national air traffic controls. According to studies conducted by IAG, this could mean: interruption in fuel use and therefore about 10% emissions.
“Solutions, not restrictions”
IAG’s three-way path for sustainability also supported it Fernando Candela, president and CEO IberiaHe defended him against a proposal by PSOE and Sumar to “encourage” the reduction of short flights.
“Effective measures that can be taken for decarbonisation include the use of sustainable fuels, which are on the table and can be used in the short term, the single European sky and real and effective intermodality,” he said. “to provide technical solutions to specific problems and Provide solutions, not restrictions“.
Candela did not want to detail which routes might be affected, but reminded that they have five routes within two and a half hours with Madrid: Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Seville, and emphasized that they “mainly provide connecting passengers who come to travel long distances.” “What will happen in the end to these passengers? They were going to come from Paris to come to New York instead of MadridWe will not be able to achieve our goals and emissions would be higher “It’s in our area,” he said.