What BA’s Initiative Is (“BA Better World” / Flightpath to Net Zero)
British Airways (BA), part of IAG, has launched a programme called BA Better World, with a key element being its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. (British Airways)
Some of the headline elements:
- Modernising fleet: BA states it is investing in new, more fuel-efficient aircraft (up to 35% more efficient than the ones replaced) to reduce fuel burn and emissions. (British Airways)
- Operational efficiency: changes in flight operations, ground operations, and various efficiency improvements. Examples include lighter aircraft equipment, changed route planning, weight savings etc. (British Airways Media Centre)
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): A big part of the plan is ramping up SAF usage. BA aims to fuel at least 10% of its aircraft fuel needs with SAF by 2030, in line with the UK government’s SAF mandate. (British Airways)
- Carbon removals / credits: Since 2024, BA has been investing in carbon removal – purchasing carbon removal credits and supporting nature-based and engineered removal schemes. At least one third of BA’s emission reductions by 2050 is expected to come from carbon removals. (British Airways Media Centre)
- R&D / new technologies: Hydrogen-powered aircraft (via investment in companies like ZeroAvia), power-to-liquid SAF (e-SAF), and exploring carbon capture technologies. (British Airways Media Centre)
- Waste reduction / circular economy / ground operations: Onboard plastic reduction, recycling, lighter cabins and equipment (e.g. lighter trolleys, materials), zero-emission or low-emission ground equipment, etc. (British Airways)
What BA isn’t Doing (and Common Misunderstandings)
- The net-zero target is 2050, not 2040. Some proposals (SAF mandates, fuel blend mandates, etc.) have milestones toward 2040 but BA itself has not declared net zero by 2040. (British Airways)
- “Carbon removal” in many cases refers to purchasing removal credits / sponsoring projects, rather than entirely internal capture or elimination. Such credits are important but come with challenges around long-term permanence, verification, and scalability. (British Airways Media Centre)
Recent Updates / Key Actions (2023-2025)
Here are recent moves that concretely show how the initiative is being operationalised:
- In 2024-2025 BA increased its use of SAF: in 2024, SAF accounted for ~2.7% of its fuel use. (Aviation Business News)
- Agreement with EcoCeres (June 2025) for a multi-year SAF supply deal that will help cut up to 400,000 tonnes CO₂ over the lifetime of that contract. (VisaVerge)
- Major carbon removal purchases via CUR8: in 2024 BA signed a deal for ~£11 million to buy ~33,000 tonnes of removal credits over six years. (instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com)
- Being shortlisted for government support (UK’s “Green Fuels, Green Skies” competition) for plants that would produce SAF domestically. (British Airways Media Centre)
Milestones & Mandates (Regulatory / Policy Context)
Some of BA’s actions are responses to regulatory requirements or mandates that create external pressure:
- UK SAF mandate: 2% of fuel must be SAF from 2025, rising to 10% by 2030, and 22% by 2040. BA’s plans are aligned with that. (British Airways)
- Government / industry expectations around cleaner aviation, carbon pricing / offset frameworks (e.g. CORSIA) and emissions reporting. These influence investment and disclosure. BA is part of these frameworks. (British Airways Media Centre)
Benefits & Expected Impacts
What BA expects / hopes to achieve:
- Lower carbon intensity per flight: through fuel efficiency, SAF, better operations. BA cites ~13% reduction in carbon intensity since 2019, partly driven by SAF usage. (Aviation Business News)
- Growing SAF supply, which also has broader benefits: stimulating investment in SAF production, creating skilled jobs in SAF plants, green fuel R&D. (British Airways Media Centre)
- Enhancing reputation among consumers increasingly sensitive to climate issues; possibly reducing regulatory / carbon costs in future.
- Encouraging broader industry change: BA is using its scale to push suppliers, partners, governments.
Challenges, Risks & Criticisms
Despite the ambitions, there are serious challenges to achieving net zero:
- Scale & Cost of SAF / e-SAF
- SAF is currently expensive, limited supply, feedstock constraints (waste oils, biomass, etc.). Scaling up to 10% or more by 2030 requires massive investment upstream. BA has made deals but the supply pipeline is uncertain.
- Technology readiness and infrastructure
- Hydrogen aircraft are promising but still in testing / early demo stages; widespread commercial hydrogen aircraft likely some years away.
- Infrastructure for SAF production (plants, transportation, blending facilities) needs to scale up in the UK / globally.
- Carbon removal caveats
- Removal credits must be verifiable, permanent, and there are concerns about “double-counting”.
- Relying too heavily on removals vs actual emissions reduction can be risky if removal technologies don’t scale or cost becomes high.
- Regulatory / policy uncertainty
- SAF mandates, carbon pricing, incentive regimes need stability. If government policies change, investment could be undermined.
- Global aviation regulation (emissions from non-CO₂ effects, lifecycle emissions etc.) is complex and evolving.
- Customer cost pressures
- SAF cost is higher; aircraft efficiency investments are capital-intensive. To maintain profitability while transitioning, BA will need to balance pricing, cost pass-through, and customer demand.
What This Means in Practice (for Passengers, Industry, BA)
- Flights might get marginally “greener” over time: more SAF-blended fuel in use, newer aircraft, incremental reductions in emissions per passenger. But real net-zero is long term (2030s-2040s and ultimately 2050).
- Ticket prices could rise somewhat to reflect higher fuel costs, SAF cost premiums, and carbon regulation / taxes. BA may or may not absorb vs pass on.
- BA may advertise / market “greener flights” or sustainability credentials more heavily; passengers may have choices (e.g., paying premiums for SAF usage or carbon-neutral options).
- Suppliers (fuel producers, manufacturers of green tech, hydrogen/hybrid engines, carbon removal firms) are likely to get more business as BA invests upstream.
- Industry collaboration and innovation will be key: BA is not alone; success depends heavily on others doing their part (governments, fuel producers, airport infrastructure, regulators).
Conclusion / Bottom-line
- BA’s sustainability initiative is credible, with a clear roadmap, several concrete steps, and alignment with regulatory mandates.
- But net-zero by 2050 remains difficult and demanding; BA is making progress, but there are large technical, economic, supply chain barriers.
- The success of the plan depends heavily on scaling SAF, technological innovation (hydrogen), policy stability, and achieving meaningful emissions reductions in the near term (next 5-10 years).
British Airways (BA) has launched the BA Better World sustainability programme, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This initiative encompasses various strategies, including the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), fleet modernization, and carbon removal projects.
Key Strategies in BA’s Sustainability Initiative
1. Adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
BA is investing in SAF, which can reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80%. In 2024, the airline sourced approximately 2.7% of its total fuel from SAF, with plans to increase this to 10% by 2030 and 50–70% by 2050. A notable collaboration includes a partnership with BP to supply SAF for flights between London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh during the COP26 conference, resulting in a lifecycle carbon reduction of up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. (Sustainability Magazine)
2. Fleet Modernization
BA is replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient models. For instance, the A350-1000 is 40% more efficient than the Boeing 747, offering the same payload and passenger capacity. Additionally, the airline is exploring hydrogen-powered aircraft through investments in companies like ZeroAvia. (Simpliflying)
3. Carbon Removal Projects
To offset remaining emissions, BA has partnered with UK-based company CUR8 to purchase carbon removal credits, aiming to become the largest airline purchaser of carbon removals in the UK. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with a renewed focus on accelerating action to 2030. (Sustainability Magazine)
4. Operational Efficiencies
BA is implementing measures to reduce emissions on the ground and in the air. Over 90% of the airline’s Heathrow ground vehicles now run on electric power or biodiesel, reducing emissions by 5,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. In-flight sustainability efforts include the removal of 250 tonnes of single-use plastic from its cabins in the past three years. (Sustainability Magazine)
Broader Industry Context
The UK government has set a target for UK domestic flights to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, as outlined in the Jet Zero Strategy. This aligns with BA’s commitment to sustainability and positions the airline to contribute significantly to the nation’s aviation decarbonization goals. (GOV.UK Assets)
Challenges and Considerations
- Scaling SAF Production: The current supply of SAF is limited, and scaling production to meet BA’s targets will require substantial investment and infrastructure development.
- Technological Advancements: While hydrogen-powered aircraft hold promise, they are still in the early stages of development, and widespread adoption may take time.
- Regulatory Support: Achieving these ambitious goals will depend on continued government support, including incentives for SAF production and carbon removal initiatives.
Conclusion
British Airways’ BA Better World programme represents a comprehensive approach to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through investments in SAF, fleet modernization, carbon removal projects, and operational efficiencies, BA is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable aviation. However, the success of this initiative will depend on overcoming challenges related to SAF production, technological advancements, and regulatory support.
