KLM Royal Dutch Airlines steps forward for sustainable aviation

By KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is stepping forward and calls upon everyone to join forces in creating a more sustainable future for aviation. Under the name Fly Responsibly, the airline commits itself to achieving maximum progress. With an open letter, published in a wide range of international newspapers on 29 June 2019, it invited all involved —including other airlines and air travelers—to take action. An online video and platform support the initiative. KLM has committed itself to sharing their sustainability learnings, best practices and tools with their competitors. On top of this, it will organize panel discussions and other events to explore all realistic options for making progress and it will prompt travelers to consider their responsibility before taking a plane.

Fly Responsibly

The aviation industry is responsible for two to three percent of the man-made CO₂ emissions in the world. Because of the growth in world population, trade and wealth, this percentage may increase over the years to come. KLM has made considerable progress in becoming more sustainable and has been in the top of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past 14 years. But joint effort is needed for more substantial progress. That is why the airline reaches out and offers others help and tips for taking action on the Fly Responsibly website: klm.com/flyresponsibly. From inviting airlines to use their best practices, to suggesting that travelers consider taking the train for shorter trips.

Sharing with the competition

For the sake of making faster progress, the aviation industry cannot afford to be held back by competition when it comes to sustainability. This is why KLM is committed to sharing their knowledge in this field—like their optimal flight insights—with all airlines. It offers competing airlines its CO₂ compensation program ‘CO2ZERO’ free of charge and free of KLM branding. It invites others to follow, to open up and share their learnings with the aviation industry.

Sustainable fuel and partner program

KLM invested in the first European sustainable fuel plant and calls upon competitors to also invest in sustainable fuel, because it believes that increasing production is key in making the aviation industry more sustainable in the foreseeable future. It also invites corporations in and outside of the industry, to partner in a corporate biofuel program to scale up the production and use of sustainable fuel and make it more accessible.

Building a sustainable future together

KLM does not have all the answers and will not be able to solve every issue as quickly as it would like. Reaching out and joining forces with all who want to commit to a more sustainable future, will yield the fastest results. That is why it opts to build a sustainable future together.

Learn more about KLM’s Fly Responsibly initiative.

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