For the fourth consecutive year, KLM and KLM Cityhopper are participating in The Aviation Challenge, the annual SkyTeam alliance initiative that aims to demonstrate how aviation can reduce its environmental footprint while testing innovative solutions. Unlike previous editions, which focused on a specific route, the 2025 strategy is broader: several operations will be under observation, and measures that have already shown positive results will be tested.
The objective is clear: to refine these improvements, scale them up, and implement them into daily operations. Furthermore, KLM has decided to broaden its focus to include social impact, collaborating in parallel with Wings of Support, its partner NGO.
Key Initiatives Underway
Smart Onboard Water Calculation
One of the most relevant tests involves using an artificial intelligence model capable of accurately predicting the amount of water needed for each flight. This avoids carrying unnecessary weight and, consequently, reduces associated emissions.
Tools for Efficient Flight
Pilots have a system designed to optimize each phase of the journey, enabling a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
Advance Meal Selection
In World Business Class, passengers can choose their menu before traveling. This ensures that only what will be consumed is loaded, reducing food waste. As a complement, the airline encourages customers to travel with lighter luggage.
→ KLM to Serve 161 Destinations This Winter with 6% Increase in Capacity
Reduction of Paper Boarding Passes
Since May 2024, KLM has recorded an 84% decrease in printed boarding passes, thanks to its push for the digitalization of this document.
Benefits for SAF Supporters
Travelers who add an additional contribution for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) receive priority in the boarding process.
Filtered Seawater
One of the most striking trials is the replacement of traditional water bottles with water from filtered seawater, a test that seeks to measure passenger acceptance.
Featured Routes for October
Between October 4 and 10, several operations will showcase these actions:
- Amsterdam — Rome, operated with the new Airbus A321neo.
- Amsterdam — Nairobi, a long-haul route with significant sustainability potential.
- Amsterdam — Krakow — Amsterdam, handled by KLM Cityhopper’s Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.
On these flights, other elements will also be tested, such as lighter catering equipment, optimized cargo pallets, intelligent distribution strategies, and electric towing vehicles. On the Cityhopper routes, the evaluation of passenger acceptance of the filtered seawater bottles will also take place.
Beyond Efficiency
Through this participation in The Aviation Challenge, KLM aims not only to reinforce its transition towards more sustainable operations but also to involve its customers and partners in a cultural shift within the air sector. The commitment combines technological innovation, waste reduction, and an emphasis on social responsibility.
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Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.