We know that holidays are amazing! We also know they need to be more sustainable, so that our Customers can continue to enjoy their well-deserved trips for the long term. Jet2 plc is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions, however further work is needed to ensure a net zero aviation industry is achieved by or before 2050.
We launched our initial Sustainability Strategy in 2021 and, since then, we have delivered tangible results against all its targets. Our Strategy has 3 pillars to enable focus on achieving our key objectives: In the Air; On the Ground; and In Resort.
We integrated seven new fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo aircraft into our fleet by 31 March 2024, from our order of 146 Airbus A321neo aircraft which will be delivered over the course of the next decade. Our baseline is 67.0 g CO2 per revenue passenger kilometre for calendar year 2019. Our airline gCO2 per revenue passenger kilometre (fuel burn only) was 65.7g for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Pleasingly, Jet2.com was also recognised with a platinum rating for airline sustainability in the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) 2023 sustainability benchmark report. This accolade saw us included in the top 10 airlines globally for sustainability performance and ranked 4th out of 100 airlines for gCO2/RPK.
The Group has made further progress on its goal to embed the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into its operations. In 2024, Jet2.com will use a 1% blend of SAF at London Stansted, Bristol and Malaga airports, purchasing approximately 1,200 tonnes almost a year ahead of the UK and EU governments’ SAF mandates which are due to be introduced from January 2025.
We maintain our belief that SAF remains one of the most effective solutions for reducing carbon emissions and is key to achieving net-zero status by 2050.
In May 2024, we updated our Sustainability Strategy, outlining our plans for the next decade to reduce our carbon intensity, increase our use of lower carbon alternative fuel or SAF and decarbonise our buildings.
Our updated Sustainability Strategy 2024 - 2035, sets forth clear targets and objectives, including the introduction of our Social Value Framework, through which we will continue to support our Colleagues and make a positive impact in the communities where we operate. Additionally, in response to our Customers’ desire for more sustainable accommodation choices and experiences we have committed to expanding our recently launched Certified Sustainable Hotel collection.
99% of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions are from jet fuel consumption. Our new climate transition plan commits us to setting a new carbon intensity reduction target of 43.55gCO2/RPK by 2035, which is a 35% reduction compared to our 2019 baseline. We will also seek ratification of this reduction target by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) and will complete our first CDP Climate Change Questionnaire response in 2024, with the aim of achieving an A rating within two years.
Our carbon intensity target of 43.55gCO2/RPK will be achieved by continuing to decarbonise our fleet. This includes integrating 146 Airbus A321neos to our fleet over the course of the next decade, increasing fuel efficiency by reducing weight on board, encouraging efficient flying behaviours and investing in technology and systems-based fuel reduction.
We will also continue to work with governments and air traffic service bodies to make sure the modernisation of airspace is realised, which we expect will reduce overall fuel usage by 8%.
We expect, at minimum, to use 15% SAF as a proportion of our total fuel mix by 2035, which reduces carbon intensity of fuel by 80% on average compared to conventional jet fuel.
In April 2023, the Group acquired an equity stake in a SAF producer - Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited - securing access to over 200 million litres of SAF for Jet2.com over a 15-year period. Subsequently, in 2024, the Group agreed to purchase a 1% SAF blend at London Stansted, Bristol and Malaga Airports, utilising approximately 1,200 tonnes of SAF a year ahead of EU and UK SAF mandates.
We will reduce the energy use intensity of our buildings, introduce on-site renewables, and decrease the embodied carbon of new build and retrofitted properties, to achieve net zero emissions at properties where we have operational control by 2035.
Over 50% of Jet2.com- owned Ground Service Equipment is now fully electric. As well as continuing to transition to electric alternatives as older equipment reaches its end of life, we will reduce emissions from our ground operations (diesel consumption) by at least 99% by 2035.
Following the launch of the Jet2holidays Certified Sustainable Hotels collection – a collection of hotels that meet globally recognised standards for hotel sustainability – we aim to continue increasing the number of hotels in this collection to over 3,000 by 2035, working with our hotel and destination partners to achieve their own sustainability goals.
Our updated Sustainability Strategy incorporates social values for our Colleagues and the local community in which we operate. It is vital our Colleagues understand the importance of, and recognise the impact of, both their own and the business’ social value contributions. Therefore, in the coming year we will continue to focus on and promote these key areas with the objective of continual improvement against our current status.
Streamlined Energy Carbon Reporting
We monitor our energy consumption and GHG in line with SECR requirements and in accordance with TCFD recommendations.
We use gCO2 per revenue passenger kilometre (gCO2/RPK) to measure our carbon intensity, which is the most widely used metric for the aviation sector.
In the year ended 31 March 2024, total Scope 1 and 2 carbon equivalent emissions (tCO2e) were 2,877,605 tonnes (2023: 2,645,600 tonnes) with 99.8% arising from our aircraft operations. The remaining emission sources were ground handling activities, together with our vehicle fleet, office heating, training, and engineering facilities.
In addition to reporting Scope 3 upstream emissions from aviation fuel, business travel, corporate flights and train journeys in line with our previous report, we have expanded and re-baselined our Scope 3 emission reporting this year which now represents approximately 31% (2023: 17%) of our total emissions.
This information is available on page 74 and 75 of our Annual Report & Accounts.
