Tarom saves 800 kg of fuel in "sustainable flight challenge"

Alina Oprea

24 May, 2023 at 5:30 PM

TAROM aims for a new record for the most efficient medium-courier flight, part of the "SkyTeam Sustainable Flight Challenge" competition. The TAROM company participates, for the second consecutive year, in the sustainable flight challenge organized by the SkyTeam alliance. The sustainable TAROM Bucharest-Madrid-Otopeni route, operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, meant a fuel economy of approximately 800 kg. Essentially, the fuel economy results in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions of over 2.5 tonnes. Company representatives say that TAROM aims to beat the record set last year for the most efficient medium-courier race.

The Bucharest-Madrid-Bucharest race took place on May 22 and was dedicated by TAROM to the protection and conservation of the Danube Delta, considering that the flight takes place on the International Day for Biological Diversity.

"Efficient consumption is the key to sustainability in aviation. Our challenge is to streamline and innovate an environment-courier race through actions, some simple, some complex, which, taken together, generate a positive effect on the environment. The record set by TAROM a year ago is due to our professionals, from all departments, who demonstrated that it is possible to run a race in conditions of maximum efficiency, and safety, but also with low CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. We aim to repeat the performance this year as well", said Dragoș Preda, fuel consumption efficiency manager, within TAROM.

The SkyTeam Sustainable Flight Challenge brings together 22 of the world's leading airlines with the goal of demonstrating, in an innovative way, that the environmental impact of the entire airline industry can be reduced and thus the entire industry can optimize its operational activity to minimize the footprint it leaves on the environment. Among other things, the challenge focuses on reducing fuel consumption and consequently carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

TAROM was named the winner in three distinct categories in the previous edition of the competition. "Airline with the lowest medium-haul CO2 emissions", "Airline with the best waste management" and "Airline with the best employee engagement" in the Sustainable Flight Challenge.

This year, the company asked for the support of passengers to maximize the efficiency of the sustainable flight. Through "push notification" type messages, passengers were notified that they would be flying on a sustainable route and were asked to carefully check their luggage to fit within the weight limits and, if possible, to leave at home any item that they do not would need on the trip.

Through this type of open and direct communication with passengers, the company aims to raise public awareness of the fact that every kg less in luggage has a positive impact on the environment.

The SkyTeam Sustainable Flight Challenge continues. TAROM will participate with one more key flight in the competition, this time on the short-haul route Bucharest – Budapest, and return on May 28.