The aerospace industry is in the midst of its fourth revolution

Earlier this month, at the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa, industry leaders reaffirmed our shared commitment to decarbonization, acknowledging both the urgency and the opportunity to shape a sustainable future for aviation. A new national consortium—H2CanFly—was launched to accelerate hydrogen flight from concept to commercialization. However, decarbonization of the aerospace industry requires a nationwide, constant effort that unites our brightest minds and industrial strengths. Canada’s strategic focus on innovation—backed by substantial investment in sustainable technology—will enable us to design, manufacture, and deploy sustainable solutions for the aerospace industry on the world stage. With nearly five billion air flights projected by the end of 2024 and mounting calls for climate action, the aerospace industry faces a clear challenge: reducing carbon emissions while supporting connectivity, security, and economic growth. And it is important to not forget that our industry itself is a source of considerable economic activity. Aviation supports some 87 million jobs worldwide today, a contribution of 3.9 per cent of global economic activity, a third of world trade by value, more than 58 per cent of tourist arrivals and connectivity for people all over the planet. For a country as vast as Canada, air travel—by way of helicopters and airplanes—is essential to our way of life. It links remote communities, keeps us connected with the world, bridges people and cultures, powers trade, saves lives, and drives innovation. The indispensability of the aerospace industry in our modern world cannot be overstated. But as the aerospace industry continues growing, so too will its environmental impact. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts international air transportation to grow at an annual rate of 3.6 per cent over the next two decades. Decarbonizing this industry is not just an environmental issue, it’s also a national and moral imperative, one that requires strong collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions. Pioneering new energy paths to decarbonization Over the past 40 years, the sector has reduced CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre by an impressive 80 per cent. Airbus and the industry are determined to advance innovation, and to find new technologies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as targeted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Air Transport Action Group, and IATA. The answer to a more environmentally responsible sky doesn’t lie in a single approach. Thus, we need to accelerate several high-potential pathways simultaneously such as: 1. Advanced aircraft design: Airbus is dedicated to designing more efficient aircraft. Our A220 models, destined for worldwide customers, but produced here in Canada, deliver 25 per cent lower CO2 emissions compared to previous generations. These technological advancements are key to making immediate strides in reducing our carbon footprint—as they are already available and flying. 2. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF): SAF have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional kerosene. While SAF production is gaining momentum in the United States and Europe, Canada’s involvement is equally critical. But yet not sufficient enough. Airbus signed last year its participation in ICAO's Act SAF program aiming at providing support for states in various stages of SAF development and deployment under ICAO coordination. By investing in local infrastructure and creating incentives, we can accelerate SAF adoption. We call on Canadian stakeholders—from policymakers to fuel producers—to prioritize SAF as a central element of our national strategy. 3. Hydrogen-powered aircraft: Our team is making significant investments in hydrogen propulsion through our ZEROe project, which aims at launching a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. This groundbreaking initiative represents the future of aviation. To bring this vision to life, we must build a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem, including production facilities and refueling infrastructure, at airports across Canada. A recent example is Airbus signing with Canada's three busiest international airports—Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto Pearson, and Vancouver—to study the feasibility of hydrogen infrastructure. A Canadian advantage Canada can lead the global shift in sustainable aviation. Our country boasts one of the world’s robust aerospace industries supported by a unique ecosystem of research institutions, manufacturers, and innovators—all focused on addressing the challenges of the future. At Airbus, we are committed to advancing this ecosystem through partnerships with universities, government bodies, and technology developers. Decarbonizing the aerospace industry is one of the most ambitious challenges of our time. Canada has a unique opportunity to lead the world in sustainable aerospace innovation, and through collaboration, we can pave the way to a more sustainable sky. The challenge ahead is significant, but so is our willingness to continue earning the right to fly. Benoît Schultz moved to Montreal in August 2021 to take up his new role as CEO of Airbus Canada. He joined Airbus over 20 years ago, first in engineering, and then in leadership positions in finance, procurement and general management. The Hill Times

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The aerospace industry is in the midst of its fourth revolution

Canada can lead the global shift in sustainable aviation. Our country boasts one of the world’s robust aerospace industries supported by a unique ecosystem of research institutions, manufacturers, and innovators.

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