Swiss aircraft Being loaded with cargo

Source: Swiss WorldCargo

Swiss WorldCargo has completed the rollout of a new fleet of lighterweight ULDs to help save fuel and emissions.

The cargo division started to deploy the new ULDs around nine months ago and said the new units are 22 kg lighter for the AKE type and 20 kg lighter for the AKH type.

”The weight decrease translates into fuel savings of nearly 900 tons per year, and contributes to lowering CO2 emissions by approximately 2,770 tons per year, advancing the airfreight division’s goal to more sustainable cargo operations,” Swiss WorldCargo said in a press release.

In addition, Swiss WorldCargo has recently replaced over 1,500 old PMC and PAJ pallets with brand-new versions.

“We are very enthusiastic about our successful rollover to newer, lighter and more sustainable containers and pallets” said Miguel Seco, head of global business excellence at Swiss WorldCargo.

“This completed transition marks not just the constant evolution of our cargo operations to keep delivering excellence to our customers with each shipment, but also our commitment to a future where efficiency and sustainability move forward together – lighter containers, heavier impact.”

The use of lighterweight ULDs is not the cargo business’s only investment to help reduce its environmental impact.

Last year, Swiss WorldCargo partnered with carbon removal firm Climeworks which is pioneering the use of direct air capture (DAC) technology to remove CO2 from the air to then be stored permanently underground.

Swiss WorldCargo will combine its DAC offering with its SAF service under the banner Aviation Tech Pioneer.

The airline said that the Aviation Tech Pioneer service will remove the equivalent of 20% of the CO2 generated by shipments through DAC while SAF will offer an 80% net reduction in emissions.