Sustainability Focus at American Airlines

American Airlines is attempting to make its operations more environmentally friendly by using more fuel-efficient planes that are fueled by low-carbon fuel and innovative technologies. The airline has set a variety of aggressive intermediate objectives in order to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. To that end, the airline is aiming to accelerate progress in a number of crucial areas, some of which it can directly affect and others of which will need action and collaboration within the aviation industry, across sectors, and by policymakers.

Discover how the airline is leading the industry in terms of sustainability, with investments in planes, goods, and operations, and a slew of awards along the way.

Among US network carriers, this is the youngest fleet.

American Airlines

American has the youngest fleet among US network carriers, as a consequence of significant investment and re-fleeting decisions made in recent years. American intensified its fleet simplification efforts in 2020, retiring more than 150 older, less fuel-efficient planes and said goodbye to numerous fleet types.

Fleet Age Is Important

By 2022, more than half of the American fleet will be less than ten years old, with an average fleet age of 12 years, making it the youngest among US network carriers. Last year, American received nine new Boeing 787-8 jets that are nearly 20% more fuel efficient than the planes they replaced, as well as 24 new Airbus A321neo planes with sharklets and engines that help make the plane 15% more fuel efficient than the previous generation.

Practices for Sustainable Air Traffic Management

American is collaborating with the FAA to develop and implement more efficient descent techniques that will allow aircraft to safely glide to airports from cruising altitude, rather than the more typical stair-step descents that need more power. These measures are expected to save up to 11 million gallons of fuel per year at our CLT and PHX hubs. American also collaborated with the FAA to create Terminal Flight Data Manager, which saved more than 275,000 gallons of fuel per year at its second-largest hub, CLT, by drastically lowering taxi times.

Putting Fuel Efficiency First

Since 2013, American’s continued fleet renewal initiatives have enabled the airline improve fuel economy by more than 10%, which is an anticipated increase of more than 22 percent.

Increasing the Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In 2022, American utilized more than 2.5 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), virtually doubling its consumption year on year. SAF’s existing and prospective delivery agreements comprise more than 620 million gallons of low-carbon fuel obligations.

Aemetis and Gevo agreements satisfy around 20% of the airline’s objective of replacing 10% of its jet fuel with SAF by 2030. These agreements call for SAF deliveries to commence in 2025 and 2026.

Smart Gating is now available at several hubs.

American has developed new smart gating technology to lessen taxiway congestion and the amount of time airplanes spend waiting for open gates. The program employs machine learning and real-time routing, runway information, and other data.

American has been named the 2023 Eco-Airline of the Year.

American Airlines has been selected the 2023 Eco-Airline of the Year by Air Transport World. ATW highlighted American’s endeavor to run a more fuel-efficient operation with more fuel-efficient aircraft powered increasingly by low-carbon fuel, as the airline’s fleet renewal project – the most comprehensive among U.S. network airlines – and increased use of sustainable aviation fuel.

The Science Based Targets Initiative has validated the first airline.

American is the first airline in the world to have its intermediate emissions reduction objective validated by the Science Based Targets project (SBTi). The United States’ science-based goal is to reduce carbon intensity by 45% by 2035 relative to a 2019 baseline.

Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index will be in its second consecutive year in 2022.

[Buildings Designed for LEED Certification]

At American’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, sustainable practices extend from operations to facilities. The campus consists of eight buildings spread across 300 acres, with the most recent structures planned with sustainability in mind. Skyview 6, the campus Hospitality Complex, is the most recent addition and is designed to fulfill LEED Gold criteria. The materials utilized in the new facility are designed to reduce heat island effects, light pollution, and energy consumption. By 2022, American’s North Texas campus facilities will be powered entirely by renewable energy.

Robert L. Crandall Campus Life

American’s campus features a diverse native Texas plant environment that preserves fragile areas and decreases outdoor water consumption. The campus’s restored forests cover ninety acres, with more on the way.