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PODCAST

Sustainability In The Air

Aviation has many paths to net zero, and few are straightforward. Sustainability in the Air cuts through the noise with clear, expert-led conversations on what’s actually advancing a more sustainable future for flight in one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise.💚 Twice a month, SimpliFlying CEO Shashank Nigam speaks with airline, airport, travel, and energy leaders to unpack the decisions shaping aviation’s climate future.💚 Each month, our Head of Sustainability Dirk Singer adds a Signal episode

leisure aviation

All Episodes

52:24

Why JetZero believes blended wing body aircraft are...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/05/29

In this episode, we speak with Tom O'Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero, which is developing the world's first commercial blended wing body (BWB) aircraft that promises to revolutionise aviation efficiency and passenger experience.JetZero is one of the visionary companies featured in our new book Sustainability in the Air: Volume Two. You can learn more about the book and order a copy here.O'Leary discusses:JetZero's mission to bring the first all-wing jet to market by the

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48:20

How Edmonton International Airport is becoming a...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/05/15

In this episode, we speak with Marion N Chivot-Legris, Director of ESG & Sustainability Strategy at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), who shares how the Canadian airport is leveraging its unique position to drive sustainability innovation across the region.Chivot-Legris discusses:YEG’s transformation into a “sustainability engine” for the entire region, building an integrated ecosystem that brings together clean energy companies, logistics, agri-food technologies, and education beyond

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50:23

Charting the next phase of sustainable aviation:...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/05/01

In this special episode, SimpliFlying’s CEO Shashank Nigam and Head of Sustainability Dirk Singer sit down with senior leaders from three companies featured in their upcoming book, Sustainability in the Air, Vol. II. Joining the conversation are Jonathon Counsell (Group Head of Sustainability, IAG), Diana Birkett Rakow (SVP of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Alaska Airlines), and Ashwin Jadhav (VP of Business Development, Twelve). Together, they explore how their organisations are addressing

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40:18

How KLM is working towards a zero-emission future in...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/04/24

In this episode, we speak with Jolanda Stevens, Program Manager for Zero Emission Aviation at KLM, who shares how the airline is preparing for a more sustainable future of aviation through innovative technologies and strategic investment in emerging solutions.Stevens discusses:KLM’s unique approach to innovation with a dedicated team focused on the “disruptive” aviation technology, working on future solutions like electric and hydrogen aircraft whilst maintaining their core flight operations.How

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39:46

How a pilot-turned-CEO transformed air travel in the...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/04/17

In this episode, we speak with Martin Gauss, former CEO of airBaltic, who transformed the Latvian flag carrier into one of Europe’s most innovative airlines while connecting the entire Baltic region.Gauss discusses:The benefits of operating a single-fleet airline with the highly efficient Airbus A220-300, resulting in 30% lower fuel consumption than older generation aircraft and contributing to airBaltic's path to carbon neutrality by 2050.airBaltic’s innovative dual business model that

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35:21

How Expliseat helps airlines cut carbon without...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/04/10

In this episode, we speak with Amaury Barberot, CEO of Expliseat, about how the company's innovative lightweight seating technology is delivering immediate sustainability benefits for airlines while improving their bottom line.Barberot discusses:Expliseat's revolutionary aircraft seat design made from carbon fibre and titanium that is 30% lighter than comparable products, saving approximately 1,200 kilograms when retrofitted on an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.The immediate environmental

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40:43

Why Swedavia sees fossil-free flying as a ‘license to...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/04/03

In this episode, we speak with Lena Wennberg, Chief Sustainable Development Officer, and Therese Forsström, Head of Environmental Department at Swedavia, which owns and operates 10 airports across Sweden, connecting the country both internally and with the rest of the world.Wennberg and Forsström discuss:Swedavia’s achievement of fossil-free operations in 2020 in their own airport operations, backed by committed leadership that views sustainability as a “license to operate.”Their ambitious goal to

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34:59

How Contrails.org aims to turn contrail research into...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/03/27

In this episode, we speak with Matteo Mirolo, Director of Strategy & External Relations at Contrails.org, a science-led nonprofit initiative aimed at transforming contrail research into practical climate action. Mirolo discusses:The substantial climate impact of contrails, which are responsible for 1-2% of human-caused global warming and have roughly the same warming effect as all aviation CO2 emissions since the jet age.The concentrated nature of the problem, with just 5% of flights causing

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48:21

How Alaska Star Ventures is funding the future of...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/03/20

In this episode, we speak with Pasha Saleh, Head of Corporate Development at Alaska Airlines, who leads Alaska Star Ventures, the airline’s corporate venture capital arm focused on sustainable aviation technologies. Saleh shares insights about the airline’s approach to sustainability investments and their vision for decarbonising the industry.Saleh discusses:The founding vision for Alaska Star Ventures, which was established to accelerate the development of technologies that don’t yet exist but are

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42:30

How Finnair celebrated its centenary with 100...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/03/13

In this episode, we speak with Eveliina Huurre, Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Finnair, who shares insights about the airline’s approach to sustainability and their ambitious targets to reduce emissions. Huurre discusses:The employee engagement initiative that yielded 300 sustainability ideas, with 100 selected for implementation during Finnair’s centenary celebrations, ranging from small cultural changes to more substantial investments in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).Finnair’s

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56:55

Is demand management in aviation a myth or reality?

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/03/06

In this special episode, we bring together Patrick Edmond, Managing Director of Altair Advisory, and Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying, to discuss whether aviation demand management is a myth or a necessary component of climate action. Moderated by Dirk Singer, SimpliFlying’s Head of Sustainability, the discussion stems from a heated LinkedIn exchange between Patrick and Shashank, sparked by Shashank’s reflections after speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. As the debate

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34:24

How InfluenceMap’s data-driven approach tracks...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/02/27

In this episode, we speak with Lucca Ewbank, Program Manager, Transport at InfluenceMap, who shares how the non-profit think tank uses data-driven analysis to assess corporate engagement with climate policies, and holds the corporate and financial sectors accountable for their role in climate change.Ewbank discusses:The significant disparity between what airlines say publicly versus what they advocate for in private meetings with policymakers, uncovered through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests

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42:02

Why Zaffra is betting big on sustainable aviation...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/02/20

In this episode, we speak with Jan Toschka, CEO of Zaffra, a joint venture between Topsoe and Sasol. Toschka shares insights about scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and why he believes the aviation industry must take responsibility for its own decarbonisation rather than relying on other sectors.Toschka discusses:The unique positioning of Zaffra, combining Topsoe’s expertise in low-carbon HEFA technology with Sasol’s experience in building and operating large-scale gas-to-liquid

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54:50

Why Cathay believes in a “greener together” approach...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/02/13

In this episode, we speak with Grace Cheung, General Manager, Sustainability at Cathay, who shares insights about industry collaboration, and why she believes making aviation “greener together” requires participation from every stakeholder in the value chain.Cheung discusses:Her journey from marketing communications to sustainability and how her background helps “translate” complex environmental initiatives into understandable business language for stakeholders and customers.Cathay’s ambitious

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50:55

Why Mission Possible Partnership believes...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/02/06

In this episode, we speak with Dick Benschop, Chair of the Board at Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), an alliance of climate leaders focused on supercharging efforts to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors.Benschop discusses:The challenge of decarbonising aviation amid rapid growth with focus on both efficiency and sustainable fuels.How blending mandates can break the “chicken and egg” problem between SAF suppliers and airlines, with Europe’s 2% mandate in 2025 serving as a catalyst for market

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47:50

Why ClimateWorks Foundation believes strategic...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/01/30

In this episode, we speak with Anna Stratton, Associate Director, Aviation at ClimateWorks Foundation, a global platform for philanthropy that has granted over $2 billion to climate solutions across 50 countries. Stratton shares insights into how philanthropic funding can drive aviation’s transition to net zero while ensuring emerging markets aren’t left behind. She discusses:The crucial role of philanthropy in advancing sustainable aviation solutions through research, analysis, and policy

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49:29

How Heathrow’s SAF incentive aims to tackle critical...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/01/23

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Gorman, Director of Carbon Strategy and Sustainability at Heathrow Airport. With 16 years at the helm of Heathrow's sustainability initiatives, Gorman shares how one of the world’s busiest airports is tackling aviation’s climate impact while maintaining its crucial role in global connectivity.Gorman discusses:Heathrow’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme, which creates a funding pool through landing charges to help airlines bridge the cost

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50:45

How Travalyst is transforming tourism through...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/01/16

In this episode, we speak with Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst. Founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Travalyst is a not-for-profit coalition that brings together leading companies from the travel and technology sectors. Davey shares insights into Travalyst’s mission and its impact on making tourism more sustainable through collaborative data initiatives. She discusses:How Travalyst has united competing travel giants like Google, Booking.com, and Expedia to work together on

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50:54

How Climeworks is making Direct Air Capture a viable...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/01/09

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christoph Gebald, co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks, one of the world’s leading direct air capture (DAC) companies. Gebald shares insights into Climeworks’ journey and vision for the future, and the crucial role of carbon removal in achieving sustainable aviation.He discusses:How their direct air capture technology (DAC) removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it permanently underground through mineralisation. Climeworks has achieved a significant

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27:50

Best of 2024: How aviation executives are charting...

Sustainability In The Air ·

2025/01/02

In this special holiday episode, we re-visit conversations with six aviation industry executives about their approaches to sustainability and decarbonisation.Scandinavian Airlines CEO Anko van der Werff shares how regional environmental consciousness shapes their strategy, combining SAF adoption with electric and hydrogen partnerships. Their first electric flight is scheduled for 2028.Alaska Airlines SVP Diana Birkett Rakow details their 2040 net-zero target, with initiatives including employee

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179 results

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