Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) operates the world's longest net-positive flight, powered by CarbonClick

12 May, 2022

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today launched the world’s longest net positive flight thanks to a partnership with enviro-tech business CarbonClick and aviation consultancy SimpliFlying.

The SAUDIA flight SV227 from Jeddah to Madrid offset a total of 346 tonnes of carbon emissions, including radiative forcing impacts by a factor of two, making it the longest net-positive for a commercial passenger flight. Operating with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the flight time was 5 hours and 55 minutes. Flight SV227 departed from King Abdulaziz International airport at 1030 hrs and arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas airport at 1535 local time.

This flight is SAUDIA’s entry into The Sustainable Flight Challenge, an initiative by SkyTeam, one of the world’s three major airline alliances. All SkyTeam airlines are being challenged to go above and beyond by finding the most sustainable way to operate one single flight in their existing networks.

The challenge seeks inspiration from the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race from London to Melbourne. CarbonClick’s partner SimpliFlying worked with SAUDIA to enable them to fulfil the net-positive flight mission.

The flight will also see the world’s first in-flight sustainability lab. Led by SimpliFlying, passengers can contribute ideas on how air travel can become ‘greener’.

SAUDIA’s participation in SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge marks part of a broader commitment by the airline to continually improve its environmental performance. This is an integral part of its business strategy and commitment to becoming an industry leader in sustainability. The flight comes on the heels of the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, where
sustainability was a key theme and SAUDIA was the strategic partner and official carrier.

“The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 will see 100 million visits to Saudi Arabia by the end of the decade”, said SAUDIA CEO Capt. Ibrahim Koshy. “A cornerstone of that vision is for the Kingdom to be a leader in sustainable and even regenerative tourism.

“As Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier we have a key part to play in making that happen. As a result, operating the world’s longest carbon net positive flight is just the start of an ambitious sustainability program that we will be implementing.”

“SAUDIA has decided to go above and beyond to not only ensure that this flight was carbon-neutral but net-positive. This partnership can serve as a model for the future,” added Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying.

CarbonClick has been selected by SimpliFlying and SAUDIA as the offsetting partner for this challenge. CarbonClick will offset flight SV227 by applying the contribution from SAUDIA to the generation of clean wind electricity for communities in India. From the offsets bought, wind turbines can be powered for 26 days, generating clean energy for the local population.

This Gold Standard project is building wind power in India, displacing an equivalent amount of carbon-intense electricity which would otherwise rely on dirty fossil fuels like coal. The contribution by SAUDIA to this project will supply clean energy to the grid, providing sustainable electricity to families living in Bhuj, in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

CarbonClick has also provided a landing page for guests on all SAUDIA flights allowing them to voluntarily offset the carbon emission of their travel. Guests who visit this page will be able to calculate the CO2 impact of their flight and make a contribution towards climate-friendly travel, receiving a verified receipt to fully-traceable carbon offsets.

“Aviation is a difficult sector to decarbonize. New, more sustainable technologies are emerging, but those advances can be easily outpaced by industry growth.” says Michelle Noordermeer, Chief Operating Officer at CarbonClick. “Saudia is setting a huge example by showing what can be done now, carbon offsetting, and using quality carbon credits as a powerful way to remove carbon and neutralize the impacts of radiative forcing.”

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About Saudia

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company is one of the Middle East’s largest airlines.

In recent years the airline has invested significantly in its fleet of narrow and widebody aircraft and operates one of the youngest fleets in the skies, with an average aircraft age of 5 years.

The airline operates a route network which includes more than 100 destinations across four continents, including all domestic airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SAUDIA is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) as well as a member airline in the SkyTeam alliance since 2012.

Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier was named the Middle East’s Fastest Growing Airline in 2022 by Brand Finance® and World’s Most Improved Airline in 2021 by Skytrax. SAUDIA also received the prestigious accolade in 2017.

The carrier is ranked as a Global Five-Star Major Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and has been awarded the Diamond status by APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying, in recognition of the airline’s extensive safety measures in response to the pandemic.

About SimpliFlying

SimpliFlying is the world’s leading aviation marketing consulting firm. Since 2009, they have helped an enviable list of aviation brands think differently and lead change in the industry. Headquartered in Singapore, SimpliFlying have presences in Canada, Spain and India.

About CarbonClick

CarbonClick is the global leader in high-trust climate action. Since 2019, they have empowered airlines and other aviation companies with simple, transparent and effective carbon offsetting solutions. In February 2022, CarbonClick became a B-Corp Certified company for its commitment to meeting and maintaining the highest standard of social and environmental impact.

About Gold Standard

The Gold Standard Foundation is a non-profit foundation headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland, which verifies carbon credits from offsetting are real and that contributing projects make measurable
contributions to sustainable development. Learn more about the Gold Standard Wind Power Project in India at
registry.goldstandard.org/projects/details/982.