Exploring SITA’s Sustainable Future: An Interview with Yann Cabaret, CEO for Aircraft at SITA

In a dynamic conversation between Yann Cabaret, CEO for Aircraft at SITA, and Megha Mary Mathews, Editor of Aviation 360 Magazine, we delve into the intricacies of achieving sustainability in aviation and the transformative strategies employed by SITA in this domain. As a leader in the aviation industry, Yann sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in achieving net-zero emissions and enhancing passenger experience through innovative technologies. Join us as we uncover the visionary approach of SITA towards shaping the future of aviation in a sustainable and efficient manner.

• How is Sustainability achieved at SITA? Could you tell us a bit about your role in this area?

“Illustrating the situation, we essentially have two primary challenges to address. First, there’s the task of building climate resilience—adaptations to the changing climate and the increased turbulence it brings. Our contribution here involves providing tools for pilots, dispatchers, and air traffic control to effectively manage the altered climate, thereby enhancing resilience.

The second challenge centres around emission reduction. This aspect focuses on assisting airlines in minimising their emissions by implementing changes in the way they operate their aircraft. So, in summary, our efforts are directed at both building resilience to climate changes and aiding airlines in reducing emissions through operational modifications.”

• What are the major challenges in achieving Net Zero and what is the realistic path forward for the aviation sector?

“A significant evolution is underway in this domain, and it can be categorised into three distinct timeframes. Firstly, there’s the absolute long term, characterised by the development of new-generation aircraft, including those powered by hydrogen and electricity. This transformative phase is anticipated to reshape the entire aviation landscape, but it necessitates considerable time.

In the mid-term, the focus shifts to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aimed at introducing low-carbon or zero-carbon aviation fuel. Building the capacity for SAF is a crucial aspect during this period.

Simultaneously, in the very short term—what’s transpiring at present—the emphasis is on redefining aviation operations to immediately reduce emissions. This is occurring before the widespread adoption of SAF, electric, or hydrogen-powered aircraft. SITA is particularly concentrating its efforts on the short term, recognizing that any enhancements made today will seamlessly apply to forthcoming technologies.”

• So what’s the timelines for these different units?

“In my perspective, the time horizon we’re addressing encompasses zero, 10, and 20 years. The immediate focus is on the present, on how we can alter our current aircraft operations and fuel utilisation to make an immediate impact on emission reduction.

The midterm plan spans around a 10-year horizon. This involves introducing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), increasing its capacity, and ensuring availability to airlines. Currently, there’s a shortage of SAF production for airlines to purchase, leading to potential penalties without the ability to make purchases. The midterm period offers the opportunity to transform aircraft operations significantly, with ongoing efforts to build SAF capacity over the next decade.

Looking ahead, the long-term strategy extends to a 20-year horizon. This involves a shift towards entirely new generation aircraft, such as electric or hydrogen-powered planes. The aviation industry operates on this extended timeline before introducing certified aircraft capable of carrying passengers.”

• What are some of the regulatory hurdles faced by airlines and how are companies like SITA helping them in dealing with these challenges?

“I view these regulations positively because they contribute to our ability to make a meaningful impact. Airlines now face a novel realm of responsibilities, including reporting, auditing, and ensuring staff availability at specific flight locations—a facet of work that was previously nonexistent. This is where SITA and technology come into play, as they can streamline processes by incorporating various data sets, such as the airline’s proprietary data, network data, SAF data, and SAF pricing data. This, in turn, provides airlines with a practical tool not only for reporting but also for enhancing operational efficiency and financial optimization.”

• What are the current safety and security trends especially in terms of enhancing passenger experience?

From SITA’s perspective, it goes back to the reality of changing climate and the increased turbulence.

Flooded airports and diverted flights definitely cause major passenger dissatisfaction and frustrations.

But we have to remember that severe turbulence also cause injuries.

That’s why at SITA, we are investing a lot of effort to bring the best weather visibility to pilots, dispatchers, and air traffic controllers. So that everyone, individually and collectively, can see and avoid bad weather for experience and safety reasons.

• What are some of the game changing projects SITA is currently working on?

“One notable project highlighted by the Director General of AACO revolves around digital identity for passengers. Exploring the use of passenger digital identity throughout the entire travel journey is poised to significantly enhance the passenger experience and their seamless integration into the overall travel landscape.

Another pivotal focus is on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). However, it’s important to note that this isn’t merely a buzzword. Presently, we are actively leveraging machine learning to optimise aircraft ascent, resulting in a noteworthy 5 percent increase.”

• Shifting megatrends see the rapid evolution of electric air taxis and emergence of Generative AI as driving forces in travel and transport.’ How is SITA exploring these shifting trends?

“We see an incredible potential in both for society and for the aviation industry.  The “electric air taxis” will still take a while to become an everyday reality due to understandable regulatory hurdles. So, as a market-leading communications provider, we see that our role now is to help future operators communicate via a reliable, robust network. This is fundamental to safety and clearly defined operations. We are working with Xwing and uAvionix to test and develop a Command and Control (C2) link that will support drone operations first and electric taxis in the future. 

As for Generative AI, we are the industry’s only provider of machine-learning in-flight guidance solutions that help pilots optimize all flight phases tailored to specific aircraft. It reduces fuel consumption and emissions by 5% on average during climb-out. Annually, an airline with a fleet of 20 jet aircraft can save over 1,600 tons of fuel, US$ 1 million net, and over 5,000 tons of carbon using the solution.”