Not satisfied with the Asyad / Swissport news above? Read on — we have plenty more aviation news for you.

JUST IN TIME FOR COP: KSA is finalizing a comprehensive plan to ensure the environmental sustainability of the civil aviation sector, Arab News reports, citing a top official. The plan — which is set to address the environmental impact of the growth of the country’s civil aviation sector — is developed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement and the International Civil Organization’s emission reduction goals. The plan will focus on reducing carbon emissions, afforestation, and the protection of marine and terrestrial areas.

What they said: “The program encompasses various matters, including greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with a set of measures and practices that align with the highest international standards. This is aimed at achieving the Kingdom’s goal of zero emissions by 2060,” GACA President Abdulaziz Al Duailej said.

We’ve been having mixed feelings: Saudi Arabia was among several nations that pushed back last week on an interim 5% target in emissions reductions from the global aviation sector by 2030. The interim target, which came after five days of UN-led negotiations last week in Dubai ahead of COP28, was agreed by over 100 countries. The 5% figure is at the low end of the 5-8% range earlier floated and sees the industry using more lower-pollution energy sources such as SAF, or sustainable aviation fuel.

SOUND SMART- We’re investing tons in SAF. Oil giant Aramco plans to bring online two SAF demonstration projects in Neom by 2025, CTO Ahmad Al Khowaiter told media last month. The company plans to earmark “hundreds of mns of USD” to build the plants, one of which will be developed in partnership with Spain’s Repsol. In October, Aramco signed a joint development agreement (JDO) to establish a separate e-fuel demonstration plant with Enowa — Neom’s energy and water utility subsidiary.

AND- Last year, Aramco and Repsol signed a partnership agreement to similarly establish an e-fuels demonstration plant in Spain that will initially have an 8k liter daily production capacity. The production demonstration of low-carbon synthetic diesel and jet fuel for automobiles and aircraft.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS TO GET CHEAPER?

Domestic flights could soon become more affordable, under a plan that could see domestic flights operated by low-cost carriers rather than by national flag carrier Saudia. The idea? To make it more affordable to fly, rather than drive, across the Kingdom, Saudia Airlines Group Chief Marketing Officer Khaled Tash told Rotana Khalejia TV yesterday (watch, runtime:1:54:47).

Why are ticket prices so high right now? It’s not airlines padding their margins — it’s the cost of oil, Tash said, adding that 30%-40% of the price of a ticket is just to cover the cost of fuel, which has gone up by 70% in the last year alone.

OTHER CARGO NEWS-

Saudia Cargo, Cainiao, and WFS collaborate on processing cross-border e-commerce shipments in Liege:Saudia Cargo, Chinese e-commerce logistics provider Cainiao, and global air cargo logistics provider WFS, a SATS group member, will “reinforce and increase” their collaboration to optimize the processing of e-commerce shipments in Liege, Belgium, according to a press release. The new arrangement is set to kick-off on 1 March 2024.

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