ETIHAD has released its latest Sustainability Report, where it outlines ambitions to achieve a 20% reduction in emissions for its passenger fleet by 2025, cut 2019 net emissions by 50% by 2035, and reach the ultimate goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The carrier also listed a number of key sustainability achievements during the 2020/21 period, including the reduction of its carbon emissions by 56%, albeit assisted by reduced operations brought on by the pandemic.

Etihad has also restructured its fleet strategy to focus on more fuel-efficient aircraft, with the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 forming the backbone of its modern fleet, while also introducing the first aircraft carbon offset program in the Middle East.

“We need to be bold in facing this issue, we need to be decisive, there is no other way forward and that is why we have been insistent that we continue to focus on the question as a long-term strategic priority for our business,” EY’s Group CEO Tony Douglas said.

MEANWHILE in further sustainability developments, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has pledged its commitment to pursue net zero emissions by 2050 across its operations and value chain.

The cruise company, parent of NCL, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has identified the reduction of carbon intensity, exploring alternative fuels, and carbon offset schemes as its three main pillars to hit the 2050 goal.

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THE travel industry has been in mourning following the sudden death last week of Mehdi Juddani (pictured), the entrepreneurial founder of subcontinental specialist Best & Less Travel.

Juddani, who was 65, started the business 27 years ago, initially as a one man band which grew to have more than 80 staff at its peak before the pandemic.

The business (and Mehdi) became a key part of the Indian community within Australia, participating in a host of cultural and religious charity events.

Best & Less Travel was also a perennial top performer with airlines and within the Express Travel Group, winning a host of awards over the years.

Mehdi also helped one of his sons, Mirza, launch the brand skiddoo.com.au which at one stage was the fastest growing OTA in Australia and was ultimately acquired by Helloworld.

Although impacted by the pandemic, Best & Less Travel is now once again back on a growth trajectory under the stewardship of another son, Murad Juddani who is leading the group into a new future.

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THE Federal Labor Party has pledged to fund a runway expansion at Hobart International Airport if they are elected to government at the upcoming federal election on 21 May.

Shadow Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, was in Tasmania this week to make the announcement, where she stated the upgrade of Hobart Airport’s runway and facilities would precipitate the launch of new direct long-haul flights to the city.

“Infrastructure investments like this unlock massive potential”, King said, adding the investment would have “lasting benefits for the state, driving the economy forward and creating thousands of secure local jobs.”

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said Tasmania was the only state without a Code E standard runway and the Labor promise will put Tasmania on the map in terms of direct, widebody air services to the rest of the world.

“While the runway has been long enough for widebody aircraft, it has not been strong enough for sustained regular services, but this potential undertaking will make this a thing of the past,” he said.

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AIR New Zealand this morning advised staff of plans to centralise its Auckland operations, bringing all of its currently city-based staff under one roof at a refurbished campus at Auckland Airport.

The project includes the construction of a new aircraft hangar, along with a four-year investment to create a “world-class aviation facility for Air NZ employees and its aircraft as the airline rebuilds”.

CEO Greg Foran said the move would future-proof the carrier’s infrastructure and also reduce its ongoing property costs.

“We’ve spent the last two years looking at how we can set ourselves up for success as we revive our airline,” he said.

“We know we work best when we work together, and we have plenty of underutilised space at the airport campus to make that happen…we’ll be creating an environment where the people who plan our future work alongside those who operate our aircraft and work with our customers every day,” Foran said.

“Globally, this way of working is delivering exceptional results for customers and shareholders, and this is the right time to get ready for a move as we prepare for the global recovery in aviation.”

Foran said the majority of Air NZ staff are based in Auckland, and it’s expected they will move to the airport facility in 2024.

He said Air New Zealand was already paying for a precinct at the airport which has more than enough space to meet “even our most ambitious growth projections,” and with building costs increasing and CBD leases coming to an end, “now is the time to get started on the work to bring our people together”.

He said the move was also an opportunity to set up a world class hybrid work environment.

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QATAR Tourism has stepped up efforts to reach the goal of attracting six million visitors a year by 2030, launching its largest ever international tourism marketing campaign in Australia this week.

Going live in the country on all major commercial TV networks, Qatar’s new “Experience a World Beyond” campaign highlights a range of tourism experiences on offer to Aussies in the country, and is designed to convey its key theme of “blended cosmopolitan modernity with Arabic culture and tradition”.

To support the major campaign push, Qatar Tourism has also revamped its travel agency training platform TAWASH, accessible HERE, offering advisors new training modules, added helpful destination content and a refreshed design.

The upgraded platform also offers agents an improved learning experience through more effective functionality such as interactive maps and knowledge quizzes.

Agents can receive “Qatar Expert” status via the new training structure, which can be upgraded to “Qatar Specialist” through the completion of additional elective options, while those who have already completed the former program will automatically receive the “Qatar Expert” level.

Commenting on the renewed trade and consumer campaign, Qatar Tourism Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said it marked an important juncture in the country’s mass appeal to international tourists.

“The launch of the Experience a World Beyond marks a significant point in our journey to establishing ourselves as a world leading destination,” he said.

View the campaign site HERE.

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