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Addressing climate change

American has set ambitious climate goals, and our strategy to reach them is focused on running an ever more fuel-efficient operation, primarily by operating more fuel-efficient aircraft that are increasingly powered by low-carbon fuel. We are also collaborating and harnessing our resources and expertise to help accelerate the decarbonization solutions that will be essential to one day achieving net zero aviation.

Our overarching climate goals

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Carbon anatomy of a flight

Many factors determine the amount of GHG emissions associated with a particular flight. Fuel efficiency of the aircraft is a key factor, but it’s not the only one — and efficiency itself is influenced by a complex set of variables. Here are the main determinants of a flight’s carbon footprint:

Aircraft design

Modern aircraft incorporate many features to save fuel, including the use of lightweight materials, aerodynamic design and more fuel-efficient engines.

Distance of flight

The takeoff and climb phases of a flight burn more fuel than the cruising or landing phases, which makes shorter flights less fuel efficient than long-haul flights.

On the ground

Single-engine taxiing and the use of high-speed tugs reduce the amount of jet fuel needed to move aircraft on the ground. And operators plug into grid electricity at the gate, which is typically less carbon intensive than using the plane’s auxiliary power.

Type of fuel

While the vast majority of aviation fuel used today is petroleum-based, sustainable aviation fuel from renewable feedstocks can cut life cycle carbon emissions related to fuel by up to 80%.

Illustration showing planes on an airport tarmac

One way airlines measure fuel efficiency and GHG intensity is by dividing absolute fuel use or emissions by revenue ton miles (RTM). RTM is the weight of revenue-generating passengers and cargo, and it — along with GHG intensity — is affected by the following factors:

Seats on a plane

The number of seats on a given aircraft varies depending on how it is configured — such as the space devoted to first-class seating, galleys and bathrooms — and the design of the seats themselves.

Number of passengers

While the number of seats on a plane determines the maximum passenger capacity, any given flight may operate with fewer passengers. Operating at or close to the maximum capacity increases fuel efficiency.

Cargo

Many passenger flights also carry cargo, which may include mail and items like medicines that need to get to their destinations quickly. This adds payload and increases efficiency.

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Our pathway to net zero

Our aim is to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and in 2022 we became the first airline globally to set externally validated, science-based 2035 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets.

More about our pathway to net zero >

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Sustainable aviation fuel

The clearest near-term way to decarbonize aviation is by transitioning to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As a result, purchasing and helping scale SAF production is a core part of American’s climate strategy this decade.

More about sustainable aviation fuel >

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Testing contrail avoidance

American is helping develop and test contrail avoidance strategies, which hold the promise of being among the most cost-effective and scalable decarbonization solutions available in the near term.

More about contrail avoidance >

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Sustainable operations

We work to improve environmental sustainability across all our operations — from how we construct and power our facilities to how we source the products we provide to our customers on board and in our lounges.

More about sustainable operations >

Accelerating decarbonization solutions

Transitioning to low-carbon aviation depends on innovations in airframe, engine and fuel production technologies, combined with effective policies and sufficient investment capital to drive those innovations and bring them to scale. That’s why a key part of American’s climate strategy is collaborating with others inside and outside of our industry who are pioneering these technologies. These collaborations, in turn, are driving our investments and catalytic commitments.

More on how American is accelerating decarbonization solutions >

Visit our Resource Center for links to numerous American Airlines documents, policies, webpages and other sources of information about our company’s approach on various sustainability topics.

Visit our Resource Center