Kuehne+Nagel, IAG Cargo complete first net zero carbon charter chain

June 30, 2021: Kuehne+Nagel and IAG Cargo completed a chain of 16 charter flights from Stuttgart to Atlanta fully carbon neutral after securing initial 1.2 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This collaboration marks the first time ever that such a charter chain is operated with net zero carbon emissions. The entire project utilised aircraft primarily suited for passenger travel, but temporarily operated in support of cargo.

The British Airways B787-900 flights left Stuttgart on June 26 with an average of 45 tonnes of automotive spares and other industrial goods from shippers destined for Atlanta. Since it began its charter service last year, Kuehne+Nagel has now completed more than 300 charters - all carbon neutral either via offsetting or use of alternative fuel.

Yngve Ruud, member of the management board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for air logistics, commented, “Climate change has now given new urgency to the search for clean, renewable fuels as they are currently the most effective measure to achieve true decarbonisation in our industry. Our work with our suppliers is critical here, with trusted partners like IAG Cargo playing a vital role in the attainment of our goals by fostering deployment of sustainable fuels so our like-minded customers can ship their products CO2 neutral in an easy and transparent way.”

As SAF still produces some CO2 emissions, complete carbon neutrality was achieved by substituting each litre of jet fuel kerosene used with 1.25 litres of SAF. Offering this solution from Stuttgart airport, the initiative highlights the importance of joint efforts for making sustainable transportation choices and possibilities available at close-by airports to local and global industry players avoiding further emissions through trucking goods into major hubs.

John Cheetham, chief commercial officer at IAG Cargo, commented, “International Airlines Group was the first European airline group to commit to powering 10 percent of its flights with sustainable fuel by 2030. These charters mark IAG Cargo’s first step on that journey – I’m incredibly proud of our commitment to long-term sustainability, helping to reduce carbon footprint overall.