Thales, in partnership with airline Amelia and Breakthrough Energy Contrails, has launched one of the world’s largest contrail avoidance initiatives, aiming to reduce aviation’s climate impact. This large-scale deployment follows successful tests on Paris-Valladolid flight routes in 2024, which prevented over 20 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions and cut flight climate impact by up to 40%.
Contrails, the thin clouds formed by aircraft, trap heat and contribute significantly to global warming. Thales’ Flights Footprint solution addresses this by adjusting flight altitudes rather than routes, limiting fuel overconsumption to under 3%. Integrated with Amelia’s Operational Control Center tools, the system provides real-time alternative flight paths to minimize contrail formation.
Supported by France’s 2030 investment plan through the DECOR project, the initiative uses advanced weather data and climate models from Breakthrough Energy Contrails. A ground-based camera system from Reuniwatt also validates contrail avoidance effectiveness. Amelia plans to expand the system across its eligible flights in 2025, becoming the first airline to systematically implement such measures.
Thales EVP Yannick Assouad highlighted the solution as a milestone for sustainable aviation, while Amelia’s Sustainability Director Adrien Chabot emphasized its potential for rapid climate impact reduction. Matteo Mirolo of Breakthrough Energy Contrails underscored the importance of large-scale contrail avoidance in aviation’s ecological transition.
This initiative sets a new benchmark for global airlines in their pursuit of more sustainable operations.
