The Aviation Challenge 2024 winners announced as the 2025 edition takes off

As the challenge of shaping a sustainable future in aviation continues, The Aviation Challenge (TAC) is going from strength-to-strength as it prepares for its’ 4^th edition.

2025 kicked off with SkyTeam announcing the winners of TAC 2024 during an awards ceremony hosted in January by Saudia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event honored remarkable achievements across 18 categories, showcasing participating airlines’ commitment to driving progress and innovation in the aviation industry.

TAC 2024, the third and largest edition to-date, brought together 24 participating airlines, including two airlines from outside the SkyTeam alliance for the first time ever. These airlines operated a combined 33 showcase flights to test and demonstrate innovative solutions that help enable sustainability progress.

“Every small step we take in improving the challenge of sustainability in aviation matters, and we must not lose momentum,” said Patrick Roux, SkyTeam’s CEO. “The results of this year’s Aviation Challenge are truly inspiring and demonstrate what is possible when we combine innovation and scale with collective action.”

Overall, TAC 2024 showcase flights resulted in:

• A 10% average improvement in CO₂ intensity (CO₂/RTK) compared to standard operations
• A 20%+ reduction in CO₂ intensity compared to the industry average
• An average decrease of 2% in total CO₂ emissions per flight, even with a 9% increase in revenue tonne-kilometers (RTK) – the metric used to measure airline activity

This was achieved through operational enhancements, such as route optimization practices, maintenance advancements, weight reduction initiatives and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use.

A total of 327 innovative solutions were submitted for TAC 2024 awards, each assessed by a diverse panel of aviation and sustainability experts. Awards were given across 18 subcategories, organized into three main categories: advancing adoption, boosting collaboration and empowering stakeholders. The award winners were selected by a jury of industry leaders from organizations including the Air Transport Action Group, American Express Global Business Travel and the UN Global Compact Network.

TAC 2024 Winners:

Advancing Adoption: ‘Putting it into Practice’

• Best Scaled Cargo Solution: SAS impressed with their recycled cardboard cargo pallets, cutting emissions by 37 tonnes in 2024, despite supply chain challenges.
• Best Scaled Inflight Solution: Aeromexico’s bluetooth-enabled inflight entertainment (IFE) integration improved operational efficiency across their B737-8 fleet while enhancing passenger engagement.
• Best Scaled Flight Operations Solution: SAS’s Fuel Efficiency Program highlighted the value of collaboration with air traffic control to achieve operational fuel and emissions savings.
• Best Scaled Ground Operations Solution: Air France’s commitment to 100% electrification of ground equipment by 2030 demonstrated scalability across global operations.
• Best Scaled Catering Solution: Kenya Airways’ use of traditional African baskets reduced waste while connecting passengers to local culture.
• Best Scaled MRO Solution: KLM Cityhopper’s fleet-wide engine washing initiative set a new standard for sustainable maintenance practices.
• Maximized Adoption of TAC Solutions: KLM won this award with an impressive total of 64 solutions adopted across their entire operation.
• Greatest Progress of Adoption of TAC Solutions: Determined by a pre-defined assessment conducted in March and October, Saudia worked on 32 sustainable solutions in which they made most progress in 2024.

Boosting Collaboration: ‘Working Together’

• Best Customer Collaboration: Jambojet created meaningful customer connections through tailored campaigns, surveys and airport activities.
• Best Team Collaboration: Garuda Indonesia’s “Zero Waste to Zero Emissions” campaign engaged employees across all levels.
• Best Partnership: TUI’s Zero Carbon Turn Project applied hydrogen power to ground operations, showcasing cross-industry innovation.
• Best Knowledge-Sharing Contribution: Virgin Atlantic used their first 100% SAF long-haul flight as a platform for industry-wide insights.

Empowering Sustainability: ‘Embedding Change in the Business’

• Sustainable Supply Chain Excellence: KLM’s integration of CO₂ pricing into supplier engagement demonstrated systemic impact.
• Best Approach to Scaling SAF: Kenya Airways launched an initiative aiming to help transition Kenya from a supplier of grain for SAF to a producer of SAF, driving local solutions.
• Best Climate Literacy: TUI educated nearly half of its workforce through engaging, highly-attended trainings.
• Best Approach to Roles & Responsibilities: Delta Air Lines’ Carbon Council embedded sustainability governance across multiple divisions.
• Data & Insights Pioneer: KLM excelled with ESG data integration, elevating sustainability visibility for stakeholders.
• Future-Proofing Strategies: China Airlines partnered with IATA to develop aggressive objectives for a 2050 Net Zero plan.

The Aviation Challenge 2025: Expanding Impact Across the Industry

TAC 2025 is all about impact – delivering tangible and measurable results. This year, the focus is on turning ideas into action by showcasing new sustainable solutions and integrating proven innovations from previous editions into real-world operations. Success in this challenge will require creativity, collaboration, and commitment to drive meaningful change.

In a major evolution for 2025, we’re excited to expand TAC beyond airlines for the first time! By welcoming non-airline participants, we can harness the full strength of the aviation ecosystem to accelerate innovation and create lasting industry-wide impact.

Stay tuned for more updates as TAC 2025 develops and progresses through the rest of the year!