Following the recent news that Virgin Atlantic has become the first airline to join the Green Cabin Alliance (GCA)’s Airline Allies initiative, Qantas has now also joined, adding operational experience to a growing collaboration network focused on creating more circular and sustainable aircraft cabin practices.
Sustainability is a focus at Qantas, which recently relaunched its Circular Economy Strategy and is also progressing through its largest-ever fleet renewal and cabin refresh programme. As a member of Airline Allies, Qantas will share its sustainability insights and initiatives with industry partners, highlight any issues identified, learn from other GCA members, and help inform practical approaches that may carry through into future aircraft cabin interior programmes.
Stephanie Pemberton, head of inflight experience and product design at Qantas, explained: “At Qantas, we’re looking at how we can make our aircraft cabins more sustainable throughout their lifecycle. Joining Airline Allies gives us the opportunity to learn more about circular design, materials innovation, repair, reuse and ways to recover materials at the end of a cabin’s life.
“Learning from others across the industry will help us better understand how we can reduce the environmental impact of our cabins and keep valuable materials in use for longer.”
The GCA aims to help the aviation sector improve the sustainability of cabin designs. The GCA notes that decisions involving materials, refurbishment, waste and end-of-life recovery can be fragmented across the cabin supply chain, which makes collaboration between airlines and industry partners increasingly important.
“Airlines better understand what works in practice, where the challenges are and what needs to change to address the ongoing issues,” commented Elina Kopola, founder of the Green Cabin Alliance. “Qantas brings an important airline perspective to the Green Cabin Alliance. We look forward to finding more practical ways together to make aircraft cabins more sustainable.”
The GCA is hoping to see more carriers join the Airline Allies initiative. Membership is open to airlines of any size. The GCA just asks that participants contribute operational insights, share their challenges, and collaborate to find solutions that can benefit the wider aviation industry.
Boeing, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Alaska Airlines and Airbus are also part of the GCA advisory board, and the inclusion of airlines will complete the circle of stakeholders.
Airlines interested in joining Airline Allies can find more details via the GCA website, or register their interest by emailing joinus@greencabinalliance.org
