The aviation industry remains at a critical crossroads as it works to reduce its carbon footprint and meet global sustainability targets, all while navigating increasing regulatory pressure.

Responsible for around 2% of global carbon emissions, according to the World Economic Forum, and with air travel demand projected to grow by 4.3% annually according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the industry must act swiftly.

In a bold continuation of their longstanding collaboration, SITA and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) are driving forward SITA Eco Mission, an innovative, data-driven solution that will assist airlines on their journey to become more sustainable and to demonstrate their efforts.

The partnership aims to equip airlines with the tools they need to meet the key challenges in the industry, which include gathering accurate, real-time data on emissions and fuel consumption; reducing operational costs related to CORSIA, EU ETS, ReFuelEU and other sustainability levers; and compliance with complex environmental regulations. More so, to the solution will support airlines in moving beyond a tactical, reactive approach, helping with smarter, strategic environmental management across three key airline functions – Compliance, Strategy & Finance and Flight Operations.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, commented, “Our ongoing collaboration with AACO is a testament to what can be achieved when industry expertise meets technological innovation. As we face unprecedented environmental challenges, achieving sustainability in aviation demands more than compliance—it calls for a visionary approach. Together with AACO, we are advancing a solution that tackles these challenges directly, paving the way for a fresh, practical approach to environmental responsibility that moves the industry closer to its goals.”

As the aviation industry adapts to increasingly complex regulations, such as the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation mandate and ICAO’s CORSIA, airlines must balance emissions reduction with cost management. The continued partnership between SITA and AACO is focused on delivering the data-driven solution needed to simplify and automate compliance and reporting, streamline data collection and analysis, reduce the costs associated with becoming more environmentally friendly and help airline plan their future operations so that they can meet their cost and emission targets.

Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, AACO, added, “Aviation’s environmental challenges are among the most difficult the industry has ever faced. Our long-standing collaboration with SITA is driven by the need for effective, forward-looking solutions. By combining SITA’s technological leadership with the industry insights of our member airlines, we are uniquely positioned to deliver tools that not only help airlines meet regulatory requirements but also push the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable aviation.”