Air China has significantly accelerated its sustainability and decarbonisation strategy by expanding sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, increasing renewable energy use, electrifying ground operations, improving fuel efficiency, and strengthening climate governance, according to its 2025 Sustainability and ESG Report. The airline continues to align its business with China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals through investments in clean energy, emissions reduction, green infrastructure, and operational efficiency.
The airline has established a comprehensive roadmap covering short-term (2026), medium-term (2030), and long-term (2050) carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets. To strengthen governance, Air China has created a dedicated Leading Group for Carbon Peaking, Carbon Neutrality and Ecological Environmental Protection, while implementing a Special Action Plan for Carbon Peaking that focuses on six strategic priorities: aviation operational fuel efficiency, aviation carbon reduction, ground energy-saving technology upgrades, carbon asset reserves, green technology development, and company-wide participation in sustainability initiatives.
Air China continued expanding the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel during 2025 by participating in domestic SAF pilot programmes and consuming 1,501 tonnes of SAF during the year. Cumulative SAF consumption has now exceeded 10,000 tonnes during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period, reflecting the airline’s long-term commitment to reducing aviation emissions and supporting the development of a sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem, Air China Sustainability Report 2025 said.
Renewable energy and cleaner ground operations recorded significant progress. Air China completed its first green electricity transaction during 2025 while maintaining a 100 percent replacement rate of aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) with Ground Power Units (GPUs) during aircraft parking. The initiative has generated cumulative aviation fuel savings of 170,000 tonnes. The airline also expanded fleet electrification, with 43 percent of its vehicle fleet now electrified and more than 90 percent of newly introduced vehicles powered by electricity.
Environmental management remains a key pillar of the company’s sustainability strategy. Air China maintained 100 percent ISO 14001 environmental management system certification across its operations while increasing environmental protection investment to RMB 689 million in 2025, compared with RMB 542 million in 2024 and RMB 385 million in 2023, representing an increase of almost 79 percent over two years. Total energy consumption reached 13.248 million tonnes of standard coal equivalent in 2025, compared with 12.981 million tonnes in 2024 and 10.608 million tonnes in 2023.
The airline achieved measurable progress in reducing emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions per revenue tonne-kilometre declined by 4 percent year-on-year, meeting Air China’s annual emissions reduction target. Total greenhouse gas emissions comprised Scope 1 emissions of 2,825 ×10,000 tonnes of CO₂, Scope 2 emissions of 19.4 ×10,000 tonnes of CO₂, and total greenhouse gas emissions of 2,844.36 ×10,000 tonnes of CO₂. Greenhouse gas emission intensity stood at 909.6 grams of CO₂ per revenue tonne-kilometre, reflecting continued improvements in operational efficiency.
Fuel efficiency also improved steadily. Fuel consumption per tonne-kilometre declined to 0.289 kg in 2025 from 0.301 kg in 2024 and 0.336 kg in 2023. Air China recorded 3.0133 million safe flight hours during the year, while flight on-time performance improved to 91.78 percent, compared with 88.07 percent in 2024 and 87.94 percent in 2023, helping reduce fuel consumption and emissions across operations.
Air China also strengthened its circular economy initiatives. The airline achieved 100 percent replacement of onboard cutlery with biodegradable alternatives and expanded plastic reduction and waste minimisation programmes throughout its flight and ground operations. More than 30,000 passengers participated in the airline’s Green Flight programme, generating cumulative carbon offsets exceeding 6,400 tonnes of CO₂. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, Air China also carried out ecological conservation projects across four regions—Sichuan, Hubei, Shanghai, and Chongqing.
The airline’s green infrastructure strategy also advanced during the year. Air China Century Building received LEED Platinum Certification, the highest rating under the LEED Green Building Certification System, reinforcing the company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable buildings and energy-efficient infrastructure.
Air China’s modern fleet continues to support lower emissions and improved fuel efficiency. By the end of 2025, the Group operated 964 aircraft with an average fleet age of 10.36 years, including 369 Airbus A320 family aircraft, 50 Airbus A330s, 30 Airbus A350s, 417 Boeing 737s, 9 Boeing 747s, 28 Boeing 777s, 14 Boeing 787s, 35 COMAC C909 aircraft, 9 COMAC C919 aircraft, and 3 business jets.
Operational growth continued alongside sustainability improvements. During 2025, Air China operated 394 domestic passenger routes and 131 international and regional passenger routes, serving 46 countries and regions. Passenger traffic reached 160.6 million, while cargo and mail transportation totalled 1.538 million tonnes. Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased to 367.64 billion, revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) reached 301.02 billion, available tonne kilometres (ATK) rose to 46.06 billion, and revenue tonne kilometres (RTK) climbed to 31.57 billion.
Looking ahead, Air China plans to further expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption, increase renewable electricity procurement, improve aircraft fuel efficiency, electrify more ground vehicles, strengthen carbon asset management, invest in low-carbon technologies, and enhance ecological conservation programmes as it advances toward its long-term carbon peaking and carbon neutrality objectives while building a more sustainable aviation business.
SHAFANA FAZAL