Air New Zealand Unveils New Emissions Goals After Dropping SBTi Targets

Air New Zealand has unveiled a new set of ambitious goals after abandoning its previous plans to meet emissions targets verified by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) by 2024. The airline has now set its sights on cutting its net ‘well-to-wake’ emissions from jet fuel by 20-25% by 2030, based on a 2019 baseline. The new target, outlined in the airline's recently published 2030 Emissions Guidance document, covers the entire lifecycle of fuels, from production to combustion.

The airline anticipates that reaching this target will reduce its overall emissions footprint from 4.3 million tonnes per year to 3.7 million or even lower. To achieve these reductions, Air New Zealand plans to rely on a combination of efficiency enhancements, supplier engagement, and a shift toward alternative fuels (SAFs).

This new target marks a significant shift from Air New Zealand’s original aim to reduce emissions intensity by 29% between 2019 and 2030. The earlier target, based on the number of people and goods transported, was ultimately abandoned in July 2024 after the airline concluded it could no longer meet the goal. Factors such as business growth and the slow pace of low-carbon tech commercialization—especially alternative fuels—played a role in this decision.

The airline aims to incorporate 10% alternative fuels into its operations by 2030, representing a significant leap from its current 0.4% usage in 2024. Despite this recalibration, Air New Zealand's long-term climate commitment remains unchanged: net-zero emissions by 2050.

Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin, explained that reworking the airline’s 2030 target has been a key priority since the original goals were scrapped. The updated emissions guidance will be reassessed and published annually until 2030, enabling the airline to adjust to changing factors, including the availability of new technologies, shifts in corporate strategy, and evolving policy frameworks. This dynamic approach will complement the airline’s existing annual climate statements.

She elaborated: “I  am sure there will be higher levels of ambition, and I acknowledge there will be many people who will argue we should be doing more… We want to be very honest about what we think is possible given the challenges involved in decarbonising the aviation sector.

“Setting something we can’t reach wouldn’t be tika [a New Zealand slang term for correct, proper, appropriate]. This will still be a stretch for us.”

“I want to acknowledge the many people across Air NZ who have worked incredibly hard on this, particularly my sustainability team. Lots of very rigorous and highly thoughtful work has gone into this, and I am very proud of the airline.”

Air New Zealand is not alone in re-evaluating its climate commitments. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also cautioned that many businesses in the aviation sector may struggle to meet their low-carbon targets due to the high costs associated with transitioning to greener technologies.