UAE’s Etihad Airways was awarded the Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 by aviation news outlet Airline Ratings, according to the statement. Airline Ratings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas pointed to the launch of Etihad Airways’ first SAF-fueled flight, the Boeing 787 — also known as the Greenliner — and the fuel efficient A350 aircraft developed in partnership with Airbus, as examples of the airline’s efforts in reducing emissions.

Etihad has reached its target for emission intensity reduction: The UAE airline’s Sustainability Report 2021-2022 set a target to reduce carbon intensity in its passenger fleet by 20% within 2 years, the news outlet reported. The CO2 emitted per revenue ton kilometer — the metric used to calculate emissions intensity — has already decreased by 26%, Group Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Aviation Group Antonoaldo Neves said. Etihad Airlines also has a target of reducing net emissions by 50% compared to a 2019 baseline by 2035, and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.