At MobiBoom, Maria João Calha, the company’s Sustainability Director, explains how aviation can reduce emissions through a more efficient fleet, new onboard practices and alternative fuels. Listen to the Expresso mobility podcast here
Sustainability is no longer a slogan at TAP: it is now one of the company’s five strategic pillars, in terms of passenger experience or operational performance.
In the MobiBoom podcast, Maria João Calha, the carrier’s Sustainability Director, explains how the company is transforming internal processes, flight operations and its own organizational culture to reduce emissions and make aviation more responsible without losing competitiveness.
The change began in 2024, when TAP approved its first transversal sustainability framework and created a Sustainability Commission chaired by the CEO. It was this top-down drive that made it possible to accelerate projects and hold teams accountable in a sector where emissions represent around 3% of the global total.
Fleet renewal is a central axis: 58% of the company’s 99 aircraft are new generation, capable of reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 20%. But the effort extends to less visible operations, such as replacing onboard equipment with lighter materials or optimizing catering, actions that, as a whole, save significant fuel and emissions.
On board, the transformation is also being felt. Since 2024, the company has introduced waste separation on flights, despite the logistical challenges associated with space and time. Crew compliance, explains Calha, has increased thanks to training, communication and visits to catering facilities, where it is possible to see the direct impact of the separation.
The modernization of the entertainment system, which allows passengers to use their own headphones, has already reduced consumption by 40% of these disposable equipment.
The biggest obstacle to decarbonization, however, is not on board: it is in the fuel. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) remain expensive, up to four times more than conventional fuel, and poorly available.
Despite this, TAP is part of the Alliance for Sustainability in Aviation and participates in the creation of the first National Roadmap for the Decarbonization of Aviation. Calha believes that, with this national and European coordination, the adoption of SAF will accelerate, although truly disruptive technologies should only be widespread after 2035.
All this happens in an industry where price sensitivity remains high.
Regular passengers prefer lower fares, but corporate customers and the cargo segment already require environmental criteria in their decisions. Some companies are even willing to co-finance SAF, sharing the cost with the airlines.
“Our mission is to preserve the accessibility of air transport for future generations”, says Calha, highlighting that sustainability is not just a regulatory requirement, it is an inevitable path for aviation.
Listen to the full episode at the top of this page.
The way we move defines how we live. Mobi Boom is a weekly podcast about mobility, innovation and quality of life in cities. From electric cars to smart neighborhoods, we explore the ideas, technologies and trends that are transforming the urban fabric and our quality of life. If you believe in greener, more humane and practical cities, this podcast is for you. New episode every Sunday.
Mobi Boom is an Expresso podcast, produced by Tale House, and the first season is supported by Kinto.
