SkyTeam Reveals Winners of Aviation Challenge 2024

Aviation Fuel/Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)Awards Kenya

February 19, 2025

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(Runway Girl Network) SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, announced the winners of The Aviation Challenge (TAC) 2024 during an awards ceremony hosted by Saudia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event honored remarkable achievements across 18 categories, showcasing participating airlines’ commitment to driving progress and innovation in the aviation industry.

The third and largest edition of TAC to-date brought together 24 participating airlines, including two airlines from outside the SkyTeam alliance for the first time ever. These airlines operated a combined 33 showcase flights to test and demonstrate innovative solutions that help enable sustainability progress.

“Every small step we take in improving the challenge of sustainability in aviation matters, and we must not lose momentum,” said Patrick Roux, SkyTeam’s CEO. “The results of this year’s Aviation Challenge are truly inspiring and demonstrate what is possible when we combine innovation and scale with collective action.”

Overall, TAC 2024 showcase flights resulted in:

A 10% average improvement in CO₂ intensity (CO₂/RTK) compared to standard operations
A 20%+ reduction in CO₂ intensity compared to the industry average
An average decrease of 2% in total CO₂ emissions per flight, even with a 9% increase in revenue tonne-kilometers (RTK) – the metric used to measure airline activity

This was achieved through operational enhancements, such as route optimization practices, maintenance advancements, weight reduction initiatives and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use.

A total of 327 innovative solutions were submitted for TAC 2024 awards, each assessed by a diverse panel of aviation and sustainability experts, including members of the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR). Awards were given across 18 subcategories, organized into three main categories: advancing adoption, boosting collaboration and empowering stakeholders. The award winners were selected by a jury of industry leaders from organizations including the Air Transport Action Group, American Express Global Business Travel and the UN Global Compact Network.

Key highlights include:

SAS’ Fuel Efficiency Program highlighted the value of collaboration with air traffic control to achieve operational fuel and emissions savings.
Garuda Indonesia’s “Zero Waste to Zero Emissions” campaign engaged employees across all levels.
Kenya Airways launched an initiative aiming to help transition Kenya from a supplier of grain for SAF to a producer of SAF, driving local solutions.

Of the 327 innovative solutions tested and submitted for the awards, 141 have been successfully implemented by participating airlines as part of their ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency.

The complete list of The Aviation Challenge winners and jury members is below.

Advancing Adoption: ‘Putting it into Practice’

Best Scaled Cargo Solution: SAS impressed with their recycled cardboard cargo pallets, cutting emissions by 37 tonnes in 2024, despite supply chain challenges.
Best Scaled Inflight Solution: Aeromexico’s bluetooth-enabled inflight entertainment (IFE) integration improved operational efficiency across their B737-8 fleet while enhancing passenger engagement.
Best Scaled Flight Operations Solution: SAS’s Fuel Efficiency Program highlighted the value of collaboration with air traffic control to achieve operational fuel and emissions savings.
Best Scaled Ground Operations Solution: Air France’s commitment to 100% electrification of ground equipment by 2030 demonstrated scalability across global operations.
Best Scaled Catering Solution: Kenya Airways’ use of traditional African baskets reduced waste while connecting passengers to local culture.
Best Scaled MRO Solution: KLM Cityhopper’s fleet-wide engine washing initiative set a new standard for sustainable maintenance practices.
Maximized Adoption of TAC Solutions: KLM won this award with an impressive total of 64 solutions adopted across their entire operation.
Greatest Progress of Adoption of TAC Solutions: Determined by a pre-defined assessment conducted in March and October, Saudia worked on 32 sustainable solutions in which they made most progress in 2024.

Boosting Collaboration: ‘Working Together’

Best Customer Collaboration: Jambojet created meaningful customer connections through tailored campaigns, surveys and airport activities.
Best Team Collaboration: Garuda Indonesia’s “Zero Waste to Zero Emissions” campaign engaged employees across all levels.
Best Partnership: TUI’s Zero Carbon Turn Project applied hydrogen power to ground operations, showcasing cross-industry innovation.
Best Knowledge-Sharing Contribution: Virgin Atlantic used their first 100% SAF long-haul flight as a platform for industry-wide insights.

Empowering Sustainability: ‘Embedding Change in the Business’

Sustainable Supply Chain Excellence: KLM’s integration of CO₂ pricing into supplier engagement demonstrated systemic impact.
Best Approach to Scaling SAF: Kenya Airways launched an initiative aiming to help transition Kenya from a supplier of grain for SAF to a producer of SAF, driving local solutions.
Best Climate Literacy: TUI reached nearly half of its workforce through engaging, highly-attended online trainings.
Best Approach to Roles & Responsibilities: Delta Air Lines’ Carbon Council embedded sustainability governance across multiple divisions.
Data & Insights Pioneer: KLM excelled with ESG data integration, elevating sustainability visibility for stakeholders.
Future-Proofing Strategies: China Airlines partnered with IATA to develop aggressive objectives for a 2050 Net Zero plan.

Jury Members:

Professor Tim Flannery, Climate Scientist and Chief Council at the Australian Climate Council
Haldane Dodd, Executive Director at Air Transport Action Group
Dr. Karl Feilder, Biofuel Expert and CTO of Neutral Fuels Holdings
Liz Minné, Head of Global Sustainability Strategy at Interface
Maryam Ali Albalooshi, Environment Manager, United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority and ICAO CAEP Member
Merei Wagenaar, Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network Netherlands
Nicole Sautter, Senior Director of Global Sustainability at American Express Global Business Travel
Romar Frazier, Head of Propulsion at JetZero

About The Aviation Challenge

The Aviation Challenge (TAC) aims to challenge participants from the aviation industry by stimulating and accelerating innovation towards a more responsible future for air travel. Launched in 2022 by SkyTeam, a leading airline alliance with member carriers worldwide, TAC brings together airlines committed to helping to advance sustainability. TAC 2024 took place between 23 January and 31 October 2024, challenging 24 participating airlines to adopt their most innovative solutions to help enable sustainability progress, competing for awards in 18 categories.

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance dedicated to transforming the future of travel by powering the smartest and most integrated customer journey. With a focus on innovation and responsibility, SkyTeam and its members work together to connect customers across an extensive global network of 1,000+ destinations. SkyTeam offers 750+ airport lounges, award-winning SkyPriority airport services and makes travel more rewarding through its members’ loyalty programs. SkyTeam members are Aeroflot (suspended), Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, SAS, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Xiamen Airlines. READ MORE