Air New Zealand published its new 2030 emissions target in May 2025. The new guidance comes after the airline scrapped its science based last year, claiming it to be beyond the company's control.
The airline had cited delivery delays for fuel efficient aircraft as well as the pricing and lack of availability for alternative jet fuels. In addition, it claimed the lack of both global and domestic regulation and policy support had been another key impact.
“In recent months, and more so in the last few weeks, it has also become apparent that potential delays to our fleet renewal plan pose an additional risk to the target’s achievability,” said Air NZ CEO Greg Foran at the time.
With its new guidance, which will be updated annually, the company said it expects to reduce its ‘well-to-wake’ net greenhouse gas emissions by 20-25% by 2030, compared to 2019.
Well-to-wake emissions are the total emissions from jet fuel, including fuel production, distribution, and combustion in flight. In the 2024 financial year, well-to-wake emissions from jet fuel accounted for 92% of the airline's 4.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, it said in its guidance.
“Air New Zealand's 2030 emissions guidance is on a net emissions reduction basis, rather than an intensity basis, to more closely align with its 2050 net zero carbon emissions target,” the airline read.
The guidance relies on its target to use 10% sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in 2030. The airline had made its largest ever SAF purchase at the end of last year, securing over 30 million litres from Neste to be uplifted from LA and San Francisco through to February 2026. In addition, the guidance relies on the delivery of fuel efficient aircraft, in line with its five year fleet and network plan. “The guidance assumes the airline’s suppliers deliver aircraft at planned timeframes and that the airline’s network operates within the range currently expected,” the company added.
The guidance also relies on operational efficiency strategies and the use of carbon credits from CORSIA.