The Aviation Challenge 2022

When this initiative first launched in 2022 as The Sustainable Flight Challenge, the aviation industry was still recovering from the impact of COVID-19. While not every SkyTeam member airline could take part, the insights and innovations from that first edition were shared widely, benefiting the entire alliance and the industry at large. By learning together, we’re accelerating the shift toward more sustainable air travel. We’re proud to have started this journey with 16 pioneering participants and excited to expand the community with each new edition of The Aviation Challenge.
Result
The Aviation Challenge 2022 focused on both the impact of solutions and their contribution to long-term change. That year’s challenge delivered notable CO₂ reductions through operational improvements, advanced aircraft, and sustainable fuel use. CO₂ intensity was 15% lower than each airline’s own baseline and 32.7% below the industry average, with 64% of flights operated by next-generation aircraft. Despite a 20.6% increase in RTK production, total CO₂ emissions per flight dropped by 4.4%. These results underscore our commitment to more efficient, sustainable air travel and set a strong foundation for continued progress in future editions of TAC.

TAC 2022 Recap Videos

Here are some inspiring videos from our SkyTeam member airlines who participated in The Aviation Challenge 2022. They captured their remarkable sustainable initiatives in action during their respective ‘showcase flights’.

Impact

Participants

Participants in The Aviation Challenge are committed to finding new ways to reduce the industry’s footprint and help move more sustainable air travel forward. Looking ahead, the goal is to expand participation and deepen collective impact.

Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aeroméxico
Air Europa
Air France
China Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Garuda Indonesia
Kenya Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Cityhopper
Korean Air
Saudia
TAROM
Vietnam Airlines
XiamenAir
ITA Airways
Award Winners
Winner
The Boldest Move
Air France
Winner
Best Partnership
KLM Cityhopper, Kenya Airways
Winner
Best Customer Engagement
Saudia
Winner
Best Employee Engagement
Everyone is a Winner
Winner
Greatest CO₂ Emissions Reduction Long-Haul
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Winner
Greatest CO₂ Reduction Medium-Haul
ITA Airways
What Were The Rules

This is the rulebook we play by.
We like to keep things fair and transparent, so we’ve laid out the key rules below. But don’t let anything hold you back—these guidelines are here to set the stage, not limit your ambition.

Participation Framework

  • Environmental sustainability focused.

  • Two distance categories:

    • Long-haul: Over 5,000 km

    • Medium-haul: Between 1,000 – 5,000 km
      Airlines may participate in one or both categories.

  • One flight per category.
    Each flight must use an existing route and represent a single entry in its respective category.

  • Flight window:
    All challenge flights must take place between 1–14 May 2022.

  • Mandatory participation category:
    The Absolute CO₂ Flight Emission category is required. All other award categories are optional.

  • Open-source commitment:
    Participating airlines agree to share their sustainability innovations openly with the wider industry.

Award & Evaluation Criteria

  • Impact awards are limited in scope to actions directly related to the flight itself.

  • Innovation awards may include solutions across the entire travel journey—from check-in to baggage claim.

  • Belly cargo is in scope.
    Full freighter flights are excluded from participation.

  • Comparisons and baselines:

    • All flights will be measured against those of other participating airlines.

    • The “Greatest CO₂ Reduction” awards are an exception and will be measured against each airline’s own baseline: a set of reference flights using the same aircraft type and route profile.

  • No award for CO₂ offsetting.
    Airlines are not required to offset residual emissions, but it is strongly encouraged.

Participation Eligibility

    • SkyTeam members and affiliates may participate free of charge.

    • Strategic partners and/or subsidiaries may join by invitation only, with a nominal fee of €25,000.

Who Was Our Jury
Zara Rutherford
Zara Rutherford
Youngest woman to fly solo around the world

Thiongo Ndungu
Thiongo Ndungu
Climate Change & Sustainability Leader

Karen Walker
Karen Walker
Editor-in-Chief

Air Transport World

Marc Buckley
Marc Buckley

ALOHAS Regenerative Foundation

Thorsten Lichtenau
Thorsten Lichtenau
Global head of carbon transition impact area

Bain & Company

Susanne Becken
Susanne Becken
Professor of Sustainable Tourism

Griffith University, Australia

Jan Peter Balkenende
Jan Peter Balkenende
Former Prime Minister

Netherlands

Wen-Yu Weng
Wen-Yu Weng
Principal Consultant

Principal Consultant

Marcius Extavour
Marcius Extavour
Chief Scientist and EVP, Climate & Energy

XPRIZE

Testimonials
quote

The Aviation Challenge has accelerated our journey to become a more sustainable airline by mobilizing departments enterprise-wide to drive bold initiatives, while learning from our industry peers and their experiences.

Jumana Master photo
Jumana Master
Sustainable Travel Experience , Delta Air Lines
quote

When airlines come together, we have the power to make a huge difference to the planet we connect. The Aviation Challenge is uniting thousands of people across our industry in a common goal to find workable new solutions to make air travel greener. I’m proud of how this hard work and commitment is making a difference - now - by uniting global airlines in SkyTeam’s Challenge to fly the change our industry needs.

Patrick Roux photo
Patrick Roux
CEO , SkyTeam
quote

Climate change remains the biggest long-term challenge that our industry faces. We are participating in The Aviation Challenge because we believe we must all work together to drive forward innovative and impactful solutions that can deliver real change for the future of air travel.

Ed Bastian photo
Ed Bastian
CEO , Delta Air Lines
Play

Footnotes:

  1. All averages were computed from the arithmetic mean of all metric values per airline/haul combination and are unweighted with respect to total CO₂, RTK, stage length, etc.

  2. Own baselines consist of the averages of approximately 50 flights per airline operated with the same aircraft type and distance band in April 2022.

  3. The average CO₂/RTK of the 22 TAC flights is a combination of medium- and long-haul flights, both excluding and including the full effect of SAF in tank.

  4. The average CO₂ emission reduction factor is based on the specific fuel used on the five flights that uplifted SAF.

  5. Ground emissions of the 14 flights participating in the “lowest CO₂ ground” category were compared using APU (4.75 gCO₂/RPK) vs APU alternatives (10.84 gCO₂/RPK).

  6. On average per passenger over the 22 TAC flights, including meals, snacks, and beverages.

  7. Average waste per passenger from 14 TAC flights participating in the “best waste management” category (0.28 kg/pax) compared to IATA’s 2019 Cabin Waste Handbook (1.43 kg/pax). May not be fully comparable due to differences in study criteria (e.g., untouched food, liquids, and cleaning waste).