Climate

Direct energy use

Fuel consumption is the most important environmental factor in the otherwise energy demanding operation of Isavia. We closely monitor fuel consumption in our operations and make efforts to try and reduce it where possible. Tests involving the addition of rapeseed oil to fuel used on equipment were initiated last year, and the hope is that we will be able to increase the proportion added in coming years. 

The greatest share of this consumption by far is accounted for by the servicing and maintenance of the runways and operating areas of airports. Although its scope in some ways relates to the number of passengers, it is for the most part dependent on the weather and, as a result, may fluctuate, particularly if winter services are required for many days of the year. During the winter of 2019–2020, winter services at Keflavík Airport were provided for 141 days. Snow clearing took 5,460 machine hours.

Isavia has operated according to an Environment and Climate Action Plan that is applicable to the end of 2021. This plan sets out various measures aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of the company’s operations. The measures involve aspects such as the renewal of its vehicle fleet, machinery, the prudent use of resources, increased electrification and carbon off-setting. We have already begun working on the revision of this action plan and the formulation of a new sustainability policy.

There was some reduction in the fuel consumption of Isavia when account is taken of the overall fuel consumption. When, however, account is taken of the use per passenger, there was a considerable increase in fuel consumption between years. This can be traced to the considerable decrease in the number of passengers to Keflavík Airport as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, it was clearly shown that Isavia’s fuel use did not correlate to the number of passengers to any great extent, as stated above. Isavia’s target for 2020 was to reduce fuel consumption per passenger by 4%, but this was not achieved.

Energy consumption within the organiztion GRI 302-1 & Reduction of energy consumption GRI 302-4

INDIRECT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (GHG)
THROUGH ENERGY USE SCOPE 2

In 2019, Isavia reached an electricity agreement with HS Veitur. The agreement provides that all electricity purchased by Isavia will be from renewable sources and free of charges due to the sale-of-origin guarantees. The energy used by Isavia in its operation in the form of electricity or heat comes from district heating plants or hydropower plants. In both cases, the energy in question is from renewable sources which generate low emissions of greenhouse gases. Indirect emissions due to heat and electricity, therefore, are very slight if account is taken of electricity production by other means. Indirect emissions through energy consumption in 2020 totalled 215 t CO2.

OTHER INDIRECT GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS (GHG)
THROUGH ENERGY USE SCOPE 3

Emissions in scope 3, indirect emissions from the operation, include the treatment of waste and employee travel. In recent years, Isavia has used the Festa Loftlagsmælir (Festa climate gauge) to estimate carbon emissions relating to scope 3, although 2019 was the first year in which Isavia fully utilised the Klappir environment monitoring system. This has provided a better picture of carbon emissions. A part of the general waste from Keflavík Airport, however, is not sent to landfills but is instead incinerated in the Reykjanes incinerator of Kalka. The emission factor for the incineration of waste is lower than those that apply to landfill disposals. Emissions from incineration and landfill waste disposal by Isavia in 2020 were 86 tonnes of CO2e.

Direct emissions of greenhouse gases per passenger increased considerably between the years 2019 and 2020. The pandemic has been instrumental in this trend. One must realise, however, that it is clear that emissions per passenger is not a good indicator. A closer examination must be made of what indicators are more appropriate. Isavia’s goal, however, is to minimise its total emissions, irrespective of the number of passengers or number of flights. We continue to strive to reduce total emissions as well as emissions from large factors such as fuel consumption. There was a decrease of 12.7% in direct greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption from 2019 to 2020.

Reduction of GHG emissions 305-5

Borealis Alliance Free Route Airpspace

Isavia is a member of Borealis Alliance, an association of nine air navigation service providers (ANSP) in Northern Europe. Work is ongoing on the Free Route Airspace project, aimed at shorter flight times, resulting in lower fuel consumption, lower costs and less pollution. In Iceland, aircraft operators can now schedule and operate direct flights from Keflavík Airport to airports in Norway and Scotland, the nearest air traffic control areas to the south-east of Icelandic airspace.

The effects of flight altitude on the fuel consumption of aircraft are considerable. As a flight progresses, it is more economical for aircraft to fly at higher altitudes. It is estimated that a thousand-foot (1,000 feet) deviation from the optimal altitude calls for 1% extra fuel per hour.