American Airlines is the only passenger airline present in the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. It was positioned for its initiatives that address environmental, social and governmental (ESG) issues.
Its performance was evaluated by S&P Global, which, through its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, selected the sustainability leaders in the United States.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index, created in 1999, measures the performance of the world’s major companies in relation to their economic, social, and environmental criteria and has become a key benchmark for investment in sustainable initiatives.
Roberti Isom, President of American Airlines said, “We are honored to have earned a spot on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (…) This milestone for our company could not have been achieved without the vision and dedication we have seen from the entire American Airlines team as we work together to meet our ambitious ESG goals. We are enormously proud to have this achievement now, and we will continue to hold ourselves to this high level of leadership as we look to the future.”
Among the airline’s many initiatives to alleviate the environmental impact of its operations is the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). In this regard, American Airlines’ 2020 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report states that “we began our transition to SAF in early 2020 by agreeing to purchase 9 million gallons from renewable products leader Neste (…) in 2021 we announced plans to purchase more than 10 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel from Prometheus Fuels.”
The company also reported that “through our membership in the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, we are also part of a consortium of airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers and U.S. government agencies focused on improving sustainability through the use of alternative jet fuels.”
Manjit Jus, Global Head of ESG Research, S&P Global, said, “We congratulate American Airlines on being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America.” “A DJSI distinction is a reflection of being a sustainability leader in their industry. The record number of companies participating in S&P’s 2021 Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment is testament to the growing movement of disclosure and transparency of environmental, social, and government initiatives,” he concluded.
The airline also intends to continue its fleet renewal process to incorporate new, more fuel-efficient aircraft: “Looking ahead, we expect to expand our current fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8s from 41 to 100 aircraft by 2026. During the same period, we expect to take delivery of more than 80 A321 family aircraft; that includes initial shipments in 2023 of our order for 50 A321XLRs, which offer 30% lower fuel burn per seat.”
